Threats to your ministry’s ability to carry out its religious mission are on the rise. This easy-to-understand legal guide describes practical steps you can take today to prepare your ministry, so you can approach religious freedom legal issues with confidence.

When the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Our Lady of Guadalupe School, it clarified and broadened the scope of the ministerial exception. This important employment case allows for greater freedom for churches and ministries as they make decisions about who will teach and represent their faith.

In Bostock, the Supreme Court ruled that an employer cannot fire or decline to hire an employee solely because of the employee’s sexual orientation or transgender status. Because the opinion leaves open all questions regarding religious-liberty rights, it is still unclear how this ruling may affect churches and ministries.

In Espinoza, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that religious schools and religious families cannot be discriminated against in state tax credit programs simply because they are religious. This case paves the way for equal treatment for religious people and organizations.

In Little Sisters of the Poor, the Supreme Court ruled that the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury had the authority to create exemptions from the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive-coverage mandate for employers who object on religious or moral grounds. While this ruling was primarily about procedures and rulemaking, the decision’s effect is greater freedom for religious organizations.

In Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley, the Supreme Court declined to provide emergency relief to a Nevada church that the state’s COVID-19 regulations treat worse than similarly-situated secular businesses and protests. The Court’s ruling does not end the church’s case; it simply declined to halt Nevada’s unequal treatment of the church while the case continues in lower federal courts.

The right to freedom of speech is one of our God-given, individual liberties that our government was established to help secure. Throughout our country’s history, Americans have recognized that a vibrant and prosperous nation must embrace freedom of speech because it’s essential to upholding democracy, the pursuit of truth, and limiting government’s power.

Church autonomy is the legal term describing the Constitution’s safeguards against governmental intrusion into religious organizations’ ecclesiastical matters. Essentially, it protects churches from undue government interference so that churches and other houses of worship can carry out their mission according to their deeply held religious beliefs and convictions.

The ministerial exception allows religious organizations to make employment decisions regarding ministers without government interference.

In July 2022, the Michigan Supreme Court reinterpreted the state's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act and penal code to include sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination within the definition of the word “sex.” The law expansively applies to churches, religious schools, and nonprofits such that now even though these entities treat all people with respect and dignity, they can face punishment for simply teaching or operating in accordance with their religious beliefs on sexuality and identity.

In a 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Carson v. Makin that the state of Maine cannot exclude students who attend religious schools from a government program in which they are otherwise qualified.

On December of 2022, President Joe Biden signed into law the misnamed Respect for Marriage Act (RFMA), which, among other things, repealed the federal Defense of Marriage Act and enshrined same-sex marriage into federal law. The law expands not only what marriage means in the law, but also who can be sued for disagreeing with its new meaning. The newly enacted law also opens the door to litigation against those who disagree with the new definition.

The practice of banks and other corporations canceling individuals and organizations due to their beliefs seems to be gaining steam. In early March of 2023, Christian podcaster, author, and preacher Lance Wallnau shared that Bank of America closed his ministry’s account. He expressed on his Instagram page that large banks are investigating Christian ministries as if they are participating in alleged “money laundering schemes” yet ignoring the larger issues America is facing.

Acquiring an attorney to help your ministry may be the last item on your to-do list as a church. Or it may not be on your list at all. With the typical high cost of bringing legal counsel on-board, hiring a church attorney to help shore up aspects of your ministry is usually a non-starter. However, having an attorney you can trust during an age when religious organizations face unprecedented challenges could preserve and strengthen your church in the long-run.

Washington State isn't the only place where the free speech rights of counselors are jeopardized. There are 21 states, plus Washington, D.C., that have passed laws censoring private counseling conversations with minors. And there are over 100 municipalities that have enacted such laws or ordinances.

Let’s consider a church’s kitchen, or suppose it has a gymnasium. While churches may want to consider opening these areas of the facility to some outside groups as a way to serve the community and share the Gospel, churches by nature are not public service providers in the eyes of the law; therefore, they do not need to accept every request for facility use. However, it’s vitally important for a church to create a facility use policy so that the community knows what activities are and are not permitted on church property and can better understand the church’s faith.

Imagine if you had escaped government oppression in search of freedom and safety for your family in a new country—only to be greeted yet again with the government treading on Constitutional rights. This is the story of Rios De Aceite.

The rapid embrace of radical ideas and activism surrounding gender ideology is seemingly everywhere we turn. This resource is intended to help churches and ministries engage with this pressing issue. It includes hypothetical scenarios, practical actions for your church, considerations for pronoun usage, and more.

A collection of sample statements & sample job descriptions for churches. Churches can refer to these documents to help guide them while crafting their own.

This guide will help you navigate the laws surrounding tax-exempt status for churches. It will equip you to identify what pastors and churches should be aware of before speaking about political issues, supporting a candidate or legislation, engaging in voter education, allowing church facilities to be used for “political” purposes, giving money to a campaign, and more.

In the United States, churches still have broad freedom to determine their employment policies. However, as our culture changes and as the Church faces increased hostility for abiding by and living out biblical beliefs, it’s crucial that the policies you have in place regarding employment clearly state your church’s beliefs so that it can be better prepared and protected for legal challenges. We created this guide to provide practical guidelines and best practices for employment. You’ll also find sample job descriptions, statements, and more.

A facility use policy is critical for any church that allows its facilities to be used by members and non-members, for any functions that are outside the traditional use of the building. We encourage you to review this legal guide for additional information.

This booklet provides a glimpse at what churches can do to protect both themselves and religious freedom for all churches. In the following pages, you will find brief explanations of rights as well as practical guidance for Christian churches.

In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court upheld the right to freedom of association, meaning Americans have the freedom to choose which groups or causes they associate with and financially support, and whether or not they make that association public knowledge.

In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the City of Philadelphia violated a faithbased non-profit’s free exercise rights when it tried to shut down the organization’s foster care ministry because of its religious beliefs. This is a significant victory for religious freedom.

On December of 2022, President Joe Biden signed into law the misnamed Respect for Marriage Act (RFMA), which, among other things, repealed the federal Defense of Marriage Act and enshrined same-sex marriage into federal law. The law expands not only what marriage means in the law, but also who can be sued for disagreeing with its new meaning. The newly enacted law also opens the door to litigation against those who disagree with the new definition.

The U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights were created over two centuries ago to recognize and protect God-given freedoms that have helped our country flourish. A central theme throughout these founding documents is the protection they provide from government overreach. Unfortunately, in today's age, with its penchant for radical ideologies and "cancel culture," the government isn't the only one who can threaten these core, founding freedoms. Corporate America is trying its hand at stifling views it doesn't like.

There’s a lot of talk about gender identity these days. We innately long to feel at home in our skin and to be comfortable with who we are. But where should humanity look to find its true identity? In union with Christ. This tool was designed to help pastors convey that message to their congregations.

Conversations and arguments surrounding the intersections between government and religion have been notoriously heated for many years in our country. Oftentimes, the arguments eventually turn to the alleged "separation of church and state." Check out this resource for six things to know about this phrase.

Tax exemption keeps the government out of the internal affairs of churches and places an important check on the government’s power over them. But there are some common myths about churches’ tax-exempt status, why it exists, and why it matters that should be addressed. These myths cause unnecessary confusion and concern about a tax policy that is actually beneficial for churches and good for society. Here are six myths that we hear most often—followed by the facts.

One of the ways to prepare your ministry is by adopting a Code of Christian Conduct. This code should be grounded in your ministry’s Statement of Faith and establish parameters for acceptable behavior for all employees, teachers, administrators, campers, students, etc.

This guide will help you navigate the laws surrounding tax-exempt status for churches as it relates to political engagement. It will equip you to identify what pastors and churches should be aware of before speaking about political issues, supporting a candidate or legislation, engaging in voter education, allowing church facilities to be used for “political” purposes, giving money to a campaign, and more.

The rapid embrace of radical ideas and activism surrounding gender ideology is seemingly everywhere we turn. This resource is intended to help churches and ministries engage with this pressing issue. It includes hypothetical scenarios, practical actions for your church, considerations for pronoun usage, and more.

There’s a lot of talk about gender identity these days. We innately long to feel at home in our skin and to be comfortable with who we are. But where should humanity look to find its true identity? In union with Christ. This tool was designed to help pastors convey that message to their congregations.

The ministerial exception allows religious organizations to make employment decisions regarding ministers without government interference.

In July 2022, the Michigan Supreme Court reinterpreted the state's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act and penal code to include sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination within the definition of the word “sex.” The law expansively applies to churches, religious schools, and nonprofits such that now even though these entities treat all people with respect and dignity, they can face punishment for simply teaching or operating in accordance with their religious beliefs on sexuality and identity.

The practice of banks and other corporations canceling individuals and organizations due to their beliefs seems to be gaining steam. In early March of 2023, Christian podcaster, author, and preacher Lance Wallnau shared that Bank of America closed his ministry’s account. He expressed on his Instagram page that large banks are investigating Christian ministries as if they are participating in alleged “money laundering schemes” yet ignoring the larger issues America is facing.

Acquiring an attorney to help your ministry may be the last item on your to-do list as a church. Or it may not be on your list at all. With the typical high cost of bringing legal counsel on-board, hiring a church attorney to help shore up aspects of your ministry is usually a non-starter. However, having an attorney you can trust during an age when religious organizations face unprecedented challenges could preserve and strengthen your church in the long-run.

Washington State isn't the only place where the free speech rights of counselors are jeopardized. There are 21 states, plus Washington, D.C., that have passed laws censoring private counseling conversations with minors. And there are over 100 municipalities that have enacted such laws or ordinances.

Let’s consider a church’s kitchen, or suppose it has a gymnasium. While churches may want to consider opening these areas of the facility to some outside groups as a way to serve the community and share the Gospel, churches by nature are not public service providers in the eyes of the law; therefore, they do not need to accept every request for facility use. However, it’s vitally important for a church to create a facility use policy so that the community knows what activities are and are not permitted on church property and can better understand the church’s faith.

Imagine if you had escaped government oppression in search of freedom and safety for your family in a new country—only to be greeted yet again with the government treading on Constitutional rights. This is the story of Rios De Aceite.

On December of 2022, President Joe Biden signed into law the misnamed Respect for Marriage Act (RFMA), which, among other things, repealed the federal Defense of Marriage Act and enshrined same-sex marriage into federal law. The law expands not only what marriage means in the law, but also who can be sued for disagreeing with its new meaning. The newly enacted law also opens the door to litigation against those who disagree with the new definition.

When the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Our Lady of Guadalupe School, it clarified and broadened the scope of the ministerial exception. This important employment case allows for greater freedom for churches and ministries as they make decisions about who will teach and represent their faith.

In Bostock, the Supreme Court ruled that an employer cannot fire or decline to hire an employee solely because of the employee’s sexual orientation or transgender status. Because the opinion leaves open all questions regarding religious-liberty rights, it is still unclear how this ruling may affect churches and ministries.

In Espinoza, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that religious schools and religious families cannot be discriminated against in state tax credit programs simply because they are religious. This case paves the way for equal treatment for religious people and organizations.

In Little Sisters of the Poor, the Supreme Court ruled that the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury had the authority to create exemptions from the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive-coverage mandate for employers who object on religious or moral grounds. While this ruling was primarily about procedures and rulemaking, the decision’s effect is greater freedom for religious organizations.

In Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley, the Supreme Court declined to provide emergency relief to a Nevada church that the state’s COVID-19 regulations treat worse than similarly-situated secular businesses and protests. The Court’s ruling does not end the church’s case; it simply declined to halt Nevada’s unequal treatment of the church while the case continues in lower federal courts.

In a 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Carson v. Makin that the state of Maine cannot exclude students who attend religious schools from a government program in which they are otherwise qualified.

In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court upheld the right to freedom of association, meaning Americans have the freedom to choose which groups or causes they associate with and financially support, and whether or not they make that association public knowledge.

In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the City of Philadelphia violated a faithbased non-profit’s free exercise rights when it tried to shut down the organization’s foster care ministry because of its religious beliefs. This is a significant victory for religious freedom.