Experienced Attorneys help Merging Churches cut through red tape
Thousands of religious congregations merge every year. According to Jim Tomberlin and Warren Bird, in their book Better Together—Making Church Mergers Work, church mergers are
Thousands of religious congregations merge every year. According to Jim Tomberlin and Warren Bird, in their book Better Together—Making Church Mergers Work, church mergers are
The Alabama Supreme Court decision sets a precedent where a congregation’s property ownership rights can be adjudicated in civil court, even if it contradicts internal church rules. This could potentially embolden other congregations considering disaffiliation, particularly those with substantial assets.
Not all religious property disputes involve a unanimous decision of a congregation. Typically, a majority of a congregation will vote to leave a denomination and
Religious property disputes can be some of the most emotionally charged legal battles. They often involve deeply held beliefs and the legacy of a community. If you find yourself embroiled in such a dispute, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and discouraged. But here’s the good news: with perseverance and a strategic approach, you can prevail. The Young-Nak church experience demonstrates the importance of perseverance in these cases and offer practical guidance to help you navigate the legal process.
There are two main issues to be decided in the 2024 General Conference of the United Methodist Church. The answer to both issues will have a significant impact on the future of the denomination and will require local congregations’ thoughtful consideration regarding their own affiliation with the denomination.
There is a current trend of leaders within the United Methodist Church to tell their story as to why the denomination has failed. Predictably, the UMC leaders are casting blame on others rather than looking inward to see what caused the problems and how they can stem future losses. Yet the problem is lack of trust between laity, clergy and bishops – a problem identified a decade ago but never addressed by the UMC.
This is the story of Chilmark Community Church located on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, and its exit from the New England Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Change is inevitable, even for our beloved faith communities. And one of the most significant transitions a church can experience is the departure of its senior pastor. It’s a time of mixed emotions – gratitude for the outgoing pastor’s contributions, sadness at their leaving, and uncertainty about the future. But with careful planning and open communication, a senior pastor transition can be an opportunity for growth and renewal.
The process of creating a legal entity involves much more than merely filing paperwork with the Secretary of State. Filling out the filing paperwork should
any churches that have disaffiliated from the United Methodist Church have done so without legal counsel. The choice to leave without the assistance of an attorney may have been due to timing, cost or simply a decision by leaders that they could complete the process on their own. While the local church may have saved money on legal fees through the process, they may not have set themselves up for success in the future. Considering this, now may be the right time to review your corporate documents with legal counsel to see if your local church is fully protected.
Problem Solvers for Religious and Nonprofit Organizations, Property Owners, and Businesses.
Do you have a question? We would love to hear from you. Click the button below and we’ll get in touch with you shortly.
Please note that this website may be considered attorney advertising in some states. Prior results described on this site do not guarantee similar outcomes in future cases or transactions.