Church Law

By Church Law and Tax - Part of the gloo network of brands

Pastors and church leaders in America face challenges that are increasing in scope and impact. Whether we're talking issues of cultural dynamics and the church or need-to-know information about everyd... more

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FAQs about Church Law:

How many episodes does Church Law have?

The podcast currently has 51 episodes available.

Church Law episodes:

November 26, 2024BONUS EPISODE: An Interview with Richard Hammar, attorney, CPA, and co-founder, Church Law & Tax
Hammar, attorney, CPA, and co-founder of Church Law & Tax. Rich reflects on his more than 40-year career representing churches and informing them through his articles for Church Law & Tax and his many books, including Pastor, Church & Law, Fifth Edition, and the annual Church & Clergy Tax Guide.
The two discuss the top five reasons churches and religious organizations go to court. They also explore the issues and challenges that have changed over the past four decades, and why churches face increasing legal liability.
And Erika asks Rich about his career transition—and what church leaders can learn from his experience.
SHOW NOTES
Episode 2: “The Top Legal Issues Confronting Churches”

Episode 15: “Keeping Children Safe in Your Church”

Pastor, Church & Law, Fifth Edition, by Richard R. Hammar

The annual Church & Clergy Tax Guide, by Richard R. Hammar

The top five reasons churches and religious organizations go to court

Erika Cole’s 2024 Church Compliance Conference

“Breach of a Fiduciary Duty,” by Richard R. Hammar

“More States Expand Victims’ Rights to Sue for Abuse,” by Richard R. Hammar

“Generative AI Is All the Rage. Handle With Care.” by Matthew Branaugh

Become a ChurchLawAndTax.com Advantage Member and enjoy full access to articles, a Legal Library, a copy of the annual Church & Clergy Tax Guide, and more.

Download your FREE copy of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System document checklist here, and check out Episode 29 (“Using a Legal Audit to Position Your Church for the Long Haul”) to learn about the importance of a legal audit for your church.

Join the waitlist for the 2025 Faithful Foundations Membership enrollment.

Unlock exclusive insights and expert advice by subscribing to The Church Attorney® YouTube Channel! Get access to video podcasts, live recordings, and much more—designed to help you navigate the legal landscape of church management with confidence. Don’t miss out—subscribe today!
Questions? Comments? We welcome them! Please contact Erika Cole at erikacole.com. Erika reads each comment and may answer your question in an upcoming episode.
See all episodes of Church Law.
The Church Law podcast is part of Gloo LLC’s ChurchLawAndTax.com.
Erika E. Cole, Esq., known as The Church Attorney®, is the creator of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System, a proprietary legal audit process that helps church leaders be confident they are operating with integrity, and avoiding costly risks. She serves as a senior editorial advisor for ChurchLawAndTax.com.
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41min
November 19, 2024Endings and New Beginnings, with Church Podcaster Matt McGee
Endings don’t have to be the end.
Erika concludes the current season of the Church Law podcast, “The Lifecycle of a Church,” by examining the ways churches facing closure still can plant seeds for new beginnings.
She’s joined by Matt McGee, host of The Last Service podcast, to talk through common perceptions—and misperceptions—about endings, especially in the American church; how church leaders define success; and what to honestly measure about a church’s health to determine ways forward.
The two also offer insights on how to make healthy transitions, plus share stories about resilient churches that forged new futures during struggles.
SHOW NOTES
Episode 45: “The Lifecycle of a Church”
“Navigating Church Closures and Mergers with Erika E. Cole, The Church Attorney,” The Last Service podcast
“Is a Merger the Right Next Step for Your Church?” by Erika E. Cole
“Dissolution,” from Pastor, Church & Law, Fifth Edition, by Richard R. Hammar
Church Finance, Second Edition, by Michael E. Batts
Understanding Church Insurance, from Church Law & Tax
Become a ChurchLawAndTax.com Advantage Member and enjoy full access to articles, a Legal Library, a copy of the annual Church & Clergy Tax Guide, and more.
Download your FREE copy of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System document checklist here, and check out Episode 29 (“Using a Legal Audit to Position Your Church for the Long Haul”) to learn about the importance of a legal audit for your church.
Join the waitlist for the 2025 Faithful Foundations Membership enrollment.
Unlock exclusive insights and expert advice by subscribing to The Church Attorney® YouTube Channel! Get access to video podcasts, live recordings, and much more—designed to help you navigate the legal landscape of church management with confidence. Don’t miss out—subscribe today!
Questions? Comments? We welcome them! Please contact Erika Cole at erikacole.com. Erika reads each comment and may answer your question in an upcoming episode.
See all episodes of Church Law.
The Church Law podcast is part of Gloo LLC’s ChurchLawAndTax.com.
Erika E. Cole, Esq., known as The Church Attorney®, is the creator of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System, a proprietary legal audit process that helps church leaders be confident they are operating with integrity, and avoiding costly risks. She serves as a senior editorial advisor for ChurchLawAndTax.com.

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30min
October 29, 2024 When to Hire An Executive Pastor, with XPastor.com Founder David “Fletch” Fletcher
So, you’ve planted your church, and it has entered a growth phase. And with that growth has come added responsibility, stress, and pressure.
Therefore, it’s understandable that you might be considering bringing in someone to help. Should that someone be an executive pastor?
David “Fletch” Fletcher, founder of XPastor.com and an advisor-at-large for Church Law & Tax, is known as the “Dean of Executive Pastors.” In this episode, he offers wisdom and insights gleaned from four decades leading churches of various sizes and makeups.
Using Acts 6 as a guide, Fletch unpacks what it is for pastors to effectively delegate certain duties and roles, and thus free themselves to focus on their calling, as they lead growing, ever-changing churches.
This is especially critical when a church enters the 500-1,000 member range, Fletch says, and begins to see declines in productivity among a growing staff, or even missional drift.
It’s why an executive pastor might be the wisest investment a church can make.
SHOW NOTES
Episode 27: “Building a Healthy Leadership Culture in Your Church”
State of the Church – 2025: Measuring What Matters in Ministry, by Gloo and Barna
Become a ChurchLawAndTax.com Advantage Member and enjoy full access to articles, a Legal Library, a copy of the annual Church & Clergy Tax Guide, and more.
Download your FREE copy of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System document checklist here, and check out Episode 29 (“Using a Legal Audit to Position Your Church for the Long Haul”) to learn about the importance of a legal audit for your church.
Join the waitlist for the 2025 Faithful Foundations Membership enrollment.
“The Changing Face of the Executive Pastor Role,” by Matthew Branaugh
“How to Interview Your Next Church” by David Fletcher
Church Finance: The Church Leader’s Guide to Financial Operations, by Michael E. Batts
Questions? Comments? We welcome them! Please contact Erika Cole at erikacole.com. Erika reads each comment and may answer your question in an upcoming episode.
See all episodes of Church Law.
The Church Law podcast is part of Gloo LLC’s ChurchLawAndTax.com.
Erika E. Cole, Esq., known as The Church Attorney®, is the creator of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System, a proprietary legal audit process that helps church leaders be confident they are operating with integrity, and avoiding costly risks. She serves as a senior editorial advisor for ChurchLawAndTax.com.
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28min
October 08, 2024 The Thriving, Expanding Church, with guest Brad Hill, chief solutions officer, Gloo
Many churches make it out of their infancies and early years and hit their strides as they approach the double-digit years of existence. When a church’s life cycle reaches this point, it’s easy for its leaders to focus on what got them there. But that can be a misstep.
In this episode, Erika talks with Brad Hill, Gloo’s chief solutions officer, about how thriving, expanding churches can maximize their opportunities by developing new ways of thinking about ministry and doing it.
Embracing new technologies like AI, and the ways they can be used for advancing the Good News and making disciples, is one such way. Finding ways to measure the health and well-being of the people coming to the church is another way. Learn more as Erika and Brad explain how a thriving, expanding church is made possible when that church thinks innovatively about helping its people thrive and flourish.
Show Notes:
Episode 45: “The Lifecycle of a Church”
Episode 32: “Readying Your Church for the AI Wave”
AI and the Church - Gloo
State of the Church – 2025: Measuring What Matters in Ministry, by Gloo and Barna
Become a ChurchLawAndTax.com Advantage Member and enjoy full access to articles, a Legal Library, a copy of the annual Church & Clergy Tax Guide, and more.
Download your FREE copy of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System document checklist here, and check out Episode 29 (“Using a Legal Audit to Position Your Church for the Long Haul”) to learn about the importance of a legal audit for your church.
Join the waitlist for the 2025 Faithful Foundations Membership enrollment
“Generative AI is All the Rage. Handle With Care,” by Matthew Branaugh
“Yes, Ministries Should Embrace AI,” by Jonathan Smith
Church IT, Third Edition, by Nick Nicholaou and Jonathan Smith
Questions? Comments? We welcome them! Please contact Erika Cole at erikacole.com. Erika reads each comment and may answer your question in an upcoming episode.
See all episodes of Church Law.
The Church Law podcast is part of Gloo LLC’s ChurchLawAndTax.com.
Erika E. Cole, Esq., known as The Church Attorney®, is the creator of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System, a proprietary legal audit process that helps church leaders be confident they are operating with integrity, and avoiding costly risks. She serves as a senior editorial advisor for ChurchLawAndTax.com.
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27min
September 10, 2024 Navigating the Early Years, with guest Pastor Soboma Wokoma
Pastors Soboma and Faith Wokoma weren’t planning to start a church. But bringing 17 people together for connection, coupled with earnest commitments to prayer, eventually led to launching Legacy Center Church in Wake Forest, North Carolina.
Eight years later, the church draws about 350 people a week. The church is at a stage some consider “the messy middle” of ministry: Operations have grown, the newness has faded, and it’s easy for ministries to move off course.
Continuing the theme of “the lifecycle of a church,” Erika talks more with Pastor Soboma about how Legacy Center has intentionally worked to avoid drift. The two discuss skill-building among staff and volunteers, using bivocational pastors, and calling upon volunteers with workplace experience to help lead the church’s administrative operations.
That last approach—volunteer-led administration—also underscores the power of continual assessment and adjustment, Pastor Soboma notes, because leadership abilities and needs change, and approaches must be flexible to respond for the long-term good of the church
Show Notes:
Episode 46: “Starting a Church, with guest Peter Olson, executive pastor”
Episode 45: “The Lifecycle of a Church”
A Special Offer for Our Podcast Listeners! As a special thank-you to our loyal podcast listeners, we’re offering an exclusive 20-percent discount on registration for the 17th annual Church Compliance Conference, a virtual event on September 19, 2024.
Simply use the discount code PODCAST at checkout, or, use these links to the discounted registration pages:
All Access Group Ticket
Individual Ticket + Companion Guide and Conference Replay
Single Admission
Church Goverance, Richard R. Hammar
Become a ChurchLawAndTax.com Advantage Member and enjoy full access to articles, a Legal Library, a copy of the annual Church & Clergy Tax Guide, and more.
Download your FREE copy of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System document checklist here, and check out Episode 29 (“Using a Legal Audit to Position Your Church for the Long Haul”) to learn about the importance of a legal audit for your church.
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27min
August 20, 2024 Starting a Church, with guest Peter Olson, executive pastor
Three years ago, Harvest Valley Church was a dream—a vision—to reach the people of Horace, North Dakota. From humble beginnings meeting in coffee shops to forming small groups to using a “portable” approach from week to week, the church has grown to nearly 500 people as it approaches its third anniversary.
How does a church like this start right and grow in a healthy way? In this episode, Erika speaks with Peter Olson, the executive pastor of Harvest Valley (and a Church Law podcast listener!). The two talk about the fundamental importance of good pre-launch planning and organization, the creation of good governing documents, and the filings with the secretary of state and Internal Revenue Service that develop good order.
They also talk about key spiritual components to starting a church. Understanding vision and mission, following the way of Jesus, and embracing the value of consistently asking questions—of staff, of volunteers, and of congregants.
The result? “A lot of learning, a lot of learning, and a lot of learning,” Olson observes. And recognizing that faithful obedience—not just numerical growth—should be the first priority.
A Special Offer for Our Podcast Listeners!
As a special thank-you to our loyal podcast listeners, we’re offering an exclusive 20-percent discount on registration for the 17th annual Church Compliance Conference, a virtual event on September 19, 2024.
Simply use the discount code PODCAST at checkout, or, use these links to the discounted registration pages:
All Access Group Ticket
Individual Ticket + Companion Guide and Conference Replay
Single Admission
Show Notes
Church Governance, by Richard R. Hammar
Pastor, Church & Law, Fifth Edition, by Richard R. Hammar
Download your FREE copy of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System document checklist here, and check out Episode 29 (“Using a Legal Audit to Position Your Church for the Long Haul”) to learn about the importance of a legal audit for your church.
Questions? Comments? We welcome them! Please contact Erika Cole at erikacole.com. Erika reads each comment and may answer your question in an upcoming episode.
See all episodes of Church Law.
The Church Law podcast is part of Gloo LLC’s ChurchLawAndTax.com.Erika E. Cole, Esq., known as The Church Attorney®, is the creator of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System, a proprietary legal audit process that helps church leaders be confident they are operating with integrity, and avoiding costly risks. She serves a
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24min
July 30, 2024 The Lifecycle of a Church
A new season of the Church Law podcast is here!
In this episode, Erika discusses this season’s theme: The lifecycle of a church.
Whether a church is launching, growing, thriving, or declining, there are important administrative, legal, and spiritual tasks and responsibilities to address.
This season will walk church leaders through each of these seasons, offering the guidance and direction they need to handle the challenges and opportunities well.
Regardless the season your church faces, learn just how—as promised in Romans 8:28—God works for the good in all things for those who love Him.
A Special Offer for Our Podcast Listeners! As a special thank-you to our loyal podcast listeners, we’re offering an exclusive 20-percent discount on registration for the 17th annual Church Compliance Conference, a virtual event on September 19, 2024. Simply use the discount code PODCAST at checkout. Register here.
Become a ChurchLawAndTax.com Advantage Member and enjoy full access to articles, a Legal Library, a copy of the annual Church & Clergy Tax Guide, and more.
Download your FREE copy of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System document checklist here, and check out Episode 29 (“Using a Legal Audit to Position Your Church for the Long Haul”) to learn about the importance of a legal audit for your church.
Questions? Comments? We welcome them! Please contact Erika Cole at erikacole.com. Erika reads each comment and may answer your question in an upcoming episode.
See all episodes of Church Law.
The Church Law podcast is part of Gloo LLC’s ChurchLawAndTax.com.
Erika E. Cole, Esq., known as The Church Attorney®, is the creator of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System, a proprietary legal audit process that helps church leaders be confident they are operating with integrity, and avoiding costly risks. She serves as a senior editorial advisor for ChurchLawAndTax.com.
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13min
May 14, 2024 A Look at Churches and the Economy in 2024, with Guest Rob Eby
There’s no shortage of economic indicators and reports to read, and as we near the halfway point of 2024, church leaders likely wonder where everything is heading.
Inflation persists and interest rates still hover near recent historic highs. Unemployment remains low, but new jobs reports suggest that may be changing. Many stocks have posted impressive returns while housing prices continue surging in many places.
In this episode, Erika talks about the economy with Rob Eby, a CPA from Aprio who has served churches and nonprofits for more than two decades.
The two review some high-level best practices all churches should remember, regardless of the economic outlook, including staying true to mission and budgeting. They also discuss the power of prayer, the value of reserves, and who should be tapped in a congregation should an economic crisis arise.
“Managing Tough Financial Times,” from the editors of Church Law & Tax
Church Finance, Second Edition: The Church Leader’s Guide to Financial Operations by Michael E. Batts
“Church Loan Modifications in a Crisis,” by Vonna Laue and Michelle Sanchez
“Q&A: Adopting a New Budget During Extraordinary Times,” by Michael E. Batts
Download your FREE copy of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System document checklist here, and check out Episode 29 (“Using a Legal Audit to Position Your Church for the Long Haul”) to learn about the importance of a legal audit for your church.
Questions? Comments? We welcome them! Please contact Erika Cole at erikacole.com. Erika reads each comment and may answer your question in an upcoming episode.
See all episodes of Church Law.
The Church Law podcast is part of Christianity Today’s ChurchLawAndTax.com, a not-for-profit publishing ministry.
Erika E. Cole, Esq., known as The Church Attorney®, is the creator of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System, a proprietary legal audit process that helps church leaders be confident they are operating with integrity, and avoiding costly risks. She serves as a senior editorial advisor for Christianity Today’s ChurchLawAndTax.com.
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24min
April 30, 2024 What To Do—or NOT Do—This Election Year
It’s election season in the United States, and after contentious races nationwide in 2020 and 2022, 2024 promises to bring even more heat.
The Oval Office is up for grabs. All 435 seats in the US House are on ballots, as are 34 in the Senate. Add to that a slate of 13 gubernatorial elections and countless state and local elections, and measures.
What is a church leader to do? Should pastors speak up, speak out?
In this episode, Erika walks church leaders through some of the key considerations they make about political involvement as Election Day approaches.
Some activities, like endorsing or opposing a candidate, may jeopardize a church’s tax-exempt status. But other activities are allowed. Erika provides need-to-know tips for navigating this tricky line throughout the 2024 election season.
SHOW NOTES
“The Tax Implications of Churches and Political Involvement,” by Richard R. Hammar
“Politics, Churches, and Constitutional Protections,” by Erik Stanley
“Politics and the Church: Activism, Speech, and the Tax Code,” by Church Law & Tax
“Checklist: How Various Political Activities Might Affect Your Church’s Tax-Exempt Status” by Church Law & Tax
Download your FREE copy of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System document checklist here, and check out Episode 29 (“Using a Legal Audit to Position Your Church for the Long Haul”) to learn about the importance of a legal audit for your church.
Questions? Comments? We welcome them! Please contact Erika Cole at erikacole.com. Erika reads each comment and may answer your question in an upcoming episode.
See all episodes of Church Law.
The Church Law podcast is part of Christianity Today’s ChurchLawAndTax.com, a not-for-profit publishing ministry.
Erika E. Cole, Esq., known as The Church Attorney®, is the creator of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System, a proprietary legal audit process that helps church leaders be confident they are operating with integrity, and avoiding costly risks. She serves as a senior editorial advisor for Christianity Today’s ChurchLawAndTax.com.
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17min
April 09, 2024 Legal Considerations for Youth Ministry, with Guest Jeff Dalrymple
Producer’s Note: This podcast episode addresses a very sensitive topic. Listener discretion is advised.
The statistics are staggering: one in three girls and one in five boys in America will be sexually abused before they turn 18, and 90 percent of victims know their abusers.
Church Law & Tax’s legal research shows that abuse claims are a perennially top reason churches and religious organizations go to court each year.
And church leaders must mobilize to respond.
Jeff Dalrymple, executive director of the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention (ECAP), joins Erika to talk more about the trends, the vulnerabilities within ministries, and the steps leaders must take to reduce those vulnerabilities and protect the youth entrusted into their care.
SHOW NOTES
Episode 41: “What Leaders Need to Know About Church Insurance Coverage”
Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention (ECAP)
“The Top 5 Reasons Churches and Religious Organizations End Up in Court,” by Richard R. Hammar
“Minimizing the Risks of Child Molestation in Churches,” by Richard R. Hammar
Reducing the Risk: A child sexual abuse awareness program
“Does Your Church Have Sexual Abuse Liability Coverage,” by Charlie Cutler
Download your FREE copy of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System document checklist here, and check out Episode 29 (“Using a Legal Audit to Position Your Church for the Long Haul”) to learn about the importance of a legal audit for your church.
Questions? Comments? We welcome them! Please contact Erika Cole at erikacole.com. Erika reads each comment and may answer your question in an upcoming episode.
See all episodes of Church Law.
The Church Law podcast is part of Christianity Today’s ChurchLawAndTax.com, a not-for-profit publishing ministry.
Erika E. Cole, Esq., known as The Church Attorney®, is the creator of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System, a proprietary legal audit process that helps church leaders be confident they are operating with integrity, and avoiding costly risks. She serves as a senior editorial advisor for Christianity Today’s ChurchLawAndTax.com.
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20min

FAQs about Church Law:

How many episodes does Church Law have?

The podcast currently has 51 episodes available.

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