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Congregation Administration
Legal Issues for Congregations
Questions About Buildings and Property
Questions About Caring for Financial Assets
Questions About Employees and Volunteers
Questions About Protecting Children, Youth and Adults from Abuse
Questions About Tax Status
Questions About Congregation Business Ethics and Conflict of Interest Policy
Questions About Confidentiality and Health Related Information
Questions About the Use of the Congregation's Computers and the Internet
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Questions About Copyright and Intellectual Property
Questions About Protecting Members from Fraud
Questions About Parliamentary Procedure
Organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Questions about Writing and Amending the Congregation Constitution
Legal Frequently Asked Questions
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Legal Issues for Congregations
» Legal Frequently Asked Questions
Legal Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions on legal issues
1.
Buildings and Property
What must our congregation consider before leasing or renting our building?
Should our congregation have a written use agreement for occasional use of the property?
Why is it important to establish separate incorporation when another organization used our building?
What does our congregation need to know about zoning and land use?
What should our congregation consider before leasing our property for a celluar tower?
What information is available about property and liability insurance?
2.
Caring for Financial Assets
Resources for Congregational Treasurers and Bookkeepers prepared by the ELCA Office of the Treasurer
Congregational Audit Guide prepared by the ELCA Office of the Treasurer
Financial Records Management
Tax Status
Good Samaritan Fund/Helping Hands Fund
My congregation is considering endorsing a commercial third party product
3.
Employees and Volunteers
What steps must my congregation take before hiring a new employee?
Applications for employment: Do we really have to use an application form
?
Are there some questions we should ask and issues we should address when doing background checks in the staff hiring process?
Are there resource materials for congregations concerning screening and hiring employees?
What does my congregation need to know about laws affecting employees?
Does my congregation need to put up posters explaining certain laws to the staff?
Where can I find some suggestions on my congregations's social media best practices?
What are some suggestions for starting out right with new staff?
4.
Protecting Children and Adults from Abuse
Sexual misconduct policy and resource
How should our congregation respond to the sex offender?
Protecting children and adults from abuse
5.
Tax Issues
Where can I find a resource that helps me understand the IRS rules?
Are there any IRS resources that deal specifically with clergy tax issues?
How do I apply for the ELCA group tax exemption?
Will our congregation tax status change if we rent or lease our property?
Will our congregation's political activity affect its tax status?
My congregation is considering endorsing a commercial third party product
.
What information will assist donors who give the congregation a gift?
Are there IRS resources to assist the clergy with their tax status?
Does my congregation have to file the IRS Form 990 to report income? What about a 990 T?
Are there resources to assist our congregation in determining the status of a person as an employee or an independent contractor?
6.
Ethics Policies
Congregation Ethics Policy
Synod Ethics Policy
7.
Confidentiality
How should the pastor care for pastoral care information?
8.
Use of Computers and the Internet
Is there a sample electronic communication policy?
9.
Use of Vehicles and Equipment
10.
Copyright and Intellectual Property
11.
Protecting Members from Fraud
12.
Parliamentary Procedure
What changes did the 2009 Churchwide Assembly bring forward in relation to youth and young adult participation as voting members in our congregations and synods?
13. Security Issues
Where can I find resources to address security issues to prevent crime and violence at my congregation?
14.
Consititutional Changes
Where can I find information on the 2011 constitutional amendments including those that need to be made to my congregation's constitution?
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