Wednesday, March 14, 2018

“5 Ways Your Church Could End Up In Court” (Christianity Today)

By Emily Lund at https://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/2018/march-web-exclusives/risk-management-matters.html

Pastors must educate themselves, their boards, and other staff members on the issues that could land them in court. Each of the following stories concerns a church that recently encountered such issues.

Church Factions Compete over Property

Be aware of the legal matters that could affect your property, and ensure that policies, procedures, and documentation are in place before a disagreement erupts.

Saddleback Church Faces Sexual Abuse Allegations

Though no longer the top reason churches end up in court, sexual abuse remains a major issue in churches large and small.

No Legal Recourse for Syrian Man in Oklahoma Church Lawsuit

For most Christians, baptisms are a cause for celebration—but for an ex-Muslim man from Syria, his baptism was nearly his death sentence.

A Landmark Religious Freedom Ruling

From a risk management perspective, this case could establish a critical precedent for cases involving churches and religious freedom.

Violent Incidents at Churches—and a Deadly Common Denominator


In November of 2016, in Jamestown, New York, 36-year-old Shari J. Robbins encountered her estranged husband—against whom she had a restraining order— in a church parking lot. During the confrontation, Robbins’s husband shot and killed her.

Read the complete article.