[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5188668/height/90/width/450/theme/custom/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/c30000/” height=”90″ width=”450″]Parliamentary experts differ on whether to use Robert’s Rules of Order or a different set of rules for meetings. I recommend Robert’s Rules for many reasons. Here are five: Continue reading “1712 5 Reasons to Use Robert’s Rules of Order”
Category: Uncategorized
1707 Is the Johnson Amendment Constitutional?
[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5160108/height/90/width/450/theme/custom/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/c30000/” height=”90″ width=”450″]Does the prohibition against 501(c)(3)s, including churches, supporting or opposing political candidates pass constitutional muster? What are the main arguments for repealing the prohibition? Continue reading “1707 Is the Johnson Amendment Constitutional?”
5 Developments in Religion and Law since Law Meets Gospel started
Five years ago, I set out to try my hand at blogging about legal and related issues that religious groups face. I sought to help faith communities improve their grasp of the rules that govern them, organize themselves, and feel comfortable contacting a lawyer for help. The last five years have brought some very interesting developments at the intersection of law and religion, and the next five promise even more. I’ve enjoyed blogging, though I have not been as regular as I would like to be. I aim to change that in the coming months. I’ve also created some graphics to help you know right away that what you’re seeing is Law Meets Gospel. To mark the fifth birthday of this effort, below are five important developments in the law that affect faith communities. And then some other big news … .
Continue reading “5 Developments in Religion and Law since Law Meets Gospel started”
Indiana church camp sues over neighboring dairy farm
In one of the first lawsuits filed under Indiana’s year-old Religious Freedom Restoration Act (Ind. Code §§ 34-13-9-1 to -11), the Hoosier Environmental Council filed a complaint (download here) on behalf of a children’s church camp in eastern Indiana. The complaint alleges that the Rush County Board of Zoning Appeals substantially burdened the House of Prayer Ministries’ exercise of religion by granting a special exception to local zoning ordinances allowing Milco Dairy to construct and operate a concentrated animal feeding operation, known as a CAFO. Continue reading “Indiana church camp sues over neighboring dairy farm”
Ex Officio Committee Members
Committees with ex officio members should include those people in their notices of meetings, but when someone is a member ex officio of all committees, the ex officio member is not counted when determining a quorum. (Typically, this is the president, but in the model constitution, this is the president and senior pastor.) These ex officio members are only different from regular members in their obligation to attend committee meetings. In other words, they have all the privileges of a member, but they are usually exempted from the responsibilities. On the other hand, when someone is an ex officio of a specific committee, that person has all the rights and obligations of another member, so the only difference is the method of selection (member due to office rather than other means of selection).
National Day of Prayer
It’s National Day of Prayer. Pray for all who protect our freedoms and for those without those freedoms. http://wh.gov/zxwf
Houses of Worship Hit by Sandy Face Difficulty Obtaining FEMA Relief
The Jewish Daily Forward has a piece in this week’s issue highlighting the challenges posed bythe Federal Emergency Management Agency’s bar on grants to houses of worship. Jewish agencies are helping synagogues apply and challenge the policy.
HT to Howard Friedman’s Religion Clause.
Don’t kidnap your youth group, even to teach a lesson
Religion Clause has this entry demonstrating why it’s a bad idea to try a mock kidnapping: Pastor and Church Indicted Over Mock Kidnapping Of Youth Group Members
Indiana Town Asks Church to Remove Cross from Public Property
The Indianapolis Star is reporting that the Hoosier town of Dugger has asked Faith Community Church to remove a cross that says “Jesus Saves” after the town council received a letter from Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
The Dugger Town Council unanimously voted to ask the church to remove the cross. Apparently the council sought to avoid a legal battle, which the town could not afford. The church’s pastor, Shawn Farris, is considering options.
The Star included comments from Americans United’s Executive Director, Rev. Barry Lyn, who said the group is “trying to provide a voice for the minority.” The report does not mention anyone in the community for whom Americans United was specifically referring to or to any comments supporting the measure on anything but financial grounds.
Dugger is located about thirty miles south of Terre Haute.
Reuters: Record-high Church Foreclosures
Here’s the Reuters story: Banks foreclosing on churches in record numbers