Category Archives: Church Discipline
How to Avoid a Lawsuit When Exercising Church Discipline
“I’ll see you in court” is a common phrase heard in movies and T.V. shows, but when uttered to a pastor or in a church it is the cause of great anxiety and dread. Unfortunately, church discipline and the departure of a pastor provide fertile grounds for lawsuits. Claims of defamation, tortious invasion of… Read More »
How Should A Pastor Approach Divorce?
Marriage is at the center of God’s plan for creation. From the very beginning, God emphasized the sacredness of marriage and the family. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus teaches about the importance of marriage and lifelong commitment: “So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together,… Read More »
Broken Trust: Protect Your Church from Embezzlement
Jim, a local police officer nearing retirement, was an usher at his church for over fifteen years. The community trusted Jim, and the church leadership gave him the responsibility of counting the offerings after services each Sunday. No one even imagined that Jim would steal money from the collection plate. Until, that is, a… Read More »
Ways for Churches to Approach Same-Sex Marriage
On June 26, 2013, the Supreme Court handed down two landmark decisions involving same-sex marriage. Because of these decisions, the federal definition of “marriage” can no longer exclude same-sex couples who were legally married under state law. Similarly, this summer the Supreme Court is expected to review four same-sex marriage cases which may definitively… Read More »
Successful Church Assimilation of Sex Offenders
In a recent survey of nearly 3,000 church leaders, an overwhelming number said they believe churches should welcome known sex offenders, despite their criminal pasts. Nearly 80 percent said sex offenders should belong to a church, while only 3 percent thought they should be completely excluded, according to the “Sex Offenders in the Church”… Read More »
Christian Mediation and Arbitration: How to Keep Your Church or Non-profit Out of Court
Every year, thousands of lawsuits are filed in America against churches, schools, other non-profits, and related entities. These lawsuits range from injuries on church property to disagreements over employment, from accidents on youth group trips to cases of sexual abuse. Indeed, the recently publicized sexual abuse cases and multi-million dollar settlements within the Catholic… Read More »
