Category Archives: Church Law

West Virginia’s Complicated Relationship with Church Incorporation
West Virginia’s current Constitution prohibits the State from allowing any church under its authority to incorporate, making it the last state not to allow church incorporation. Article VI, Section 47 of the West Virginia Constitution explicitly states: “No charter of incorporation shall be granted to any church or religious denomination.” [1] Surprisingly to some,… Read More »

Charitable Solicitation Registration-Why Register?
Charitable Solicitation Registration-Why Register? Updated June 2022 From the nonprofit fundraising scandals of the late 1970’s to the televangelist debacles of the 2000’s, charity scandals over the last few decades have led many state governments to increase their regulation of charitable fundraising. The most significant legislative response to the shifting nonprofit landscape is the… Read More »

Church Third Party Uses: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You!
Church Third Party Uses: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You! By H. Robert Showers, Esq. and Justin R. Coleman, Esq. Renting or allowing the use of church and ministry facilities by third parties opens your ministry up to many new risks: child abuse liability, unwanted use purposes (same-sex marriages) or activities on-premises (illegal… Read More »

Religious Liberty 2020-2021 and Beyond: What is Next for Churches & Nonprofits?
Religious Liberty 2020-2021 and Beyond: What is Next for Churches & Nonprofits? By Robert Showers, Esq. and William Thetford, Esq. February 11, 2022 Religious Liberty Shifts In 2020 and 2021, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Supreme Court made several rulings that signal where religious liberty may be going in this… Read More »

Virtual Currency Gifts: Should Churches and Nonprofits Accept Bitcoin?
Virtual Currency Gifts: Should Churches and Nonprofits Accept Bitcoin? By William R. Thetford, Esq. and H. Robert Showers, Esq. Updated October 27, 2021 Preface Excitement rides high on the cryptocurrency wave these days. Even on the wave, though, one must be wary of the height. For churches and nonprofits, that height presents some serious… Read More »

Vaccine and Mask Mandates Within Private K-12 Schools
Vaccine and Mask Mandates Within Private K-12 Schools By H. Robert Showers, Esq. and William R. Thetford, Esq. September 27, 2021 As the COVID crisis and associated regulations dealing with COVID and the Delta Variant have evolved, so have the questions facing our clients. People across Virginia and in other states are going back… Read More »

Virtual Currency Gifts: Should Churches and Nonprofits Accept Bitcoin?
Virtual Currency Gifts: Should Churches and Nonprofits Accept Bitcoin? By William R. Thetford, Esq. and H. Robert Showers, Esq. Updated July 14, 2021 Preface Excitement rides high on the cryptocurrency wave these days. Even on the wave, though, one must be wary of the height. For churches and nonprofits, that height might be too… Read More »

Amidst Anticipated Relief, Big Questions Remain for COVID Vaccines, Masking Requirements, and Risk Management
Amidst Anticipated Relief, Big Questions Remain for COVID Vaccines, Masking Requirements, and Risk Management By William R. Thetford, Esq. and H. Robert Showers, Esq. May 28, 2021 The day many Americans began dreaming of in March 2020 is arriving as states end executive orders limiting gatherings, masks (at least for those who are vaccinated),… Read More »

What You Need to Know About H.R. 5 (“The Equality Act”)
What You Need to Know About H.R. 5 (“The Equality Act”) By H. Robert Showers, Esq. and William R. Thetford, Esq. April 27, 2021 In the wake of the new administration, Congress has taken up H.R. 5, entitled the Equality Act by its supporters. Evangelical Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Jewish groups, as well as… Read More »

PPP 2.0: What your Organization Needs to Know About the Second Draw of the PPP
PPP 2.0: What your Organization Needs to Know About the Second Draw of the PPP By H. Robert Showers, Esq. and William R. Thetford, Esq. January 19, 2020 While many organizations await final forgiveness of their initial Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, Congress recently approved an expansion of the PPP, the Consolidated Appropriations Act… Read More »