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Church liability Archives - Church Executive

3 myths of the 501(c)(3): When misunderstandings lead to misguidance

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church compliance, church compliance with IRS, church IRS compliance, Church legal, Church liability, church liability management, Church risk management, church risks

March 18, 2016 at 2:14 pm.

At our Ultimate Church Structure Conferences, I speak with many pastors who, unfortunately, have been misinformed about what 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status truly means and the impact it will have on their churches. Pastors often attend our conference in the hopes of clearing up doubts and questions that they’ve been riddled with regarding tax law and church compliance. For that very reason, I have listed below three of the most common misconceptions that I hear from pastors across the country regarding churches and 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.

4 steps to creating a safe ministry

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Church insurance, Church lawsuits, Church legal, Church liability, church protection, Church risk management, church safety, church safety ministry

March 1, 2016 at 10:53 am.

It’s no secret the world we live in today is much different than it was just a few years ago. In today’s society, it has become clear that churches are no longer the safe haven they once were thought to be. It’s not uncommon to hear stories of church violence or allegations of abuse on the nightly news. Unfortunately, churches have become more vulnerable to these types of incidents that threaten the strength and reputation of the organization. To help protect your religious organization from these threats, the leaders of your church are encouraged to set aside time each year to ensure the safety and security of the facility. During this time, it’s important to analyze, review and modify current church policies and procedures to ensure adequate plans are in place to help prevent potential risks.

Examining organizational structure — including (and especially) church members’ rights

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church governance, Church lawsuits, Church legal, church legal expertise, Church liability, church member rights, church rights

March 1, 2016 at 10:40 am.

There are more than 400,000 churches in the United States, each with its own governance structure and decision-making model. With so many different models and terminology used to describe church governance structures — elders, deacons, trustees, directors, pastor and apostle — it can be quite confusing to determine what’s the best and most biblically-sound corporate structure for your own church.

5 compliance challenges EVERY church leader needs to know about

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church compliance, church compliance with IRS, church IRS compliance, Church legal, Church liability, church liability management, Church risk management, church risks

February 19, 2016 at 5:17 pm.

The landscape for churches and ministries is filled with pitfalls.

Over the last 20 years, Congress and the IRS have become very interested in the activities of churches, ministries and nonprofits, which has led to the enactment of section 4958 and the creation of the Exempt Organizations Executive Compensation Compliance Project, resulting in increased enforcement presence and millions of dollars in fines.

Background check red flags: what to watch for, what they indicate — and what to do if they arise

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children's ministry, church background checks, church children, Church hiring, Church HR, Church liability, church screening, church staff management, protecting children in the church

February 1, 2016 at 4:19 pm.

Ministries need to be aware that even the best applicant on paper might not seem so squeaky clean after a background check. It’s important that church leaders have a standardized policy when it comes to identifying “red flags” that will disqualify someone from employment or volunteer positions. Even red flags such as behavior or character traits need to be thoughtfully weighed as they could expose the church to increased risk.

What to do if your church is subject to a liability claim

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church claims, Church insurance, church insurance claims, Church lawsuits, Church legal, Church liability, Church risk management

February 1, 2016 at 3:39 pm.

Accidents happen; it’s inevitable. And when those accidents occur, it can be a scary time for both the injured party and the church. When such events take place and the injured party files a claim against the church, it’s called a liability claim.

The most expensive form of labor — volunteer labor

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church legal risks, Church liability, Church risk management, church volunteer labor, church volunteer management, church volunteers, volunteer management

February 1, 2016 at 9:56 am.

Not infrequently, pastors and their parish / congregational administrators, board and / or committee members are inclined to avail themselves of “donated” labor in the form of volunteers who purport to have the appropriate experience, expertise and equipment required to perform some necessary project work on or within parish buildings.

Want to move “beyond insurance”?

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church coverage, Church insurance, Church lawsuits, Church liability, Church risk, Church risk management, Risk Management

January 1, 2016 at 11:11 am.

You probably noticed that this new series of articles has been retitled to Never Again: Beyond Insurance. But, how does a church organization get “beyond insurance” — and should it even try?

What happens after you submit a church insurance claim?

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church claim, church fire, Church insurance, Church liability, Church risk, Church risk management, church theft

November 15, 2015 at 1:16 pm.

Accidents happen. Catastrophes are unpredictable. There are many situations a church might encounter that will require submitting an insurance claim.

To a church, the claims process can be overwhelming, as you might have little understanding of what happens behind
the scenes.

To offer insight and make the process easier for you and your insurance company, learn about who you’ll be working with, how you can be prepared after submitting a claim, and the settlement timeline.

Protecting children in the church: the true cost of stewardship

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church background checks, Church liability, Church risk management, church screening, church security, protecting children, screening solutions

November 15, 2015 at 12:40 pm.

Ministries have a bold task. You want — and need — to be good stewards of your communities and congregations. That can often lead to conflicting methodologies when it comes to balancing budgets.

While you want to devote the majority of your money to your missions, outreach and education programs, you also understand the importance of recruiting quality volunteers and employees, and prioritizing hiring procedures.

This, of course, has a dollar value, too.