Should our congregation have a written use agreement for occasional use of the property?

 

Congregations as part of their ministry often allow nonprofit organizations use of their premises for weekly meetings. Some examples are 12-step groups and volunteer youth activities such as scouting. It is important to have a written agreement which sets forth the relationship and obligations of the third party use of the congregation’s property.

These use agreements are not a lease or full blown rental agreement. Use agreements are not appropriate for a regular tenant who leases the building several days a week or for a lease to a for-profit organization. If a third party is leasing the church education building for a five-day-a-week day care, there needs to be a longer lease prepared by legal counsel.

A Sample Use Agreement provides specific understandings of use, requires that the user have insurance and agrees to indemnify the congregation for claims or damages.

Sample Third Party Use Agreement  Microsoft Word
Sample Third Party Use Agreement PDF Format