How do religious institutions and the law interrelate? What happens in faith-based arbitration and litigation? In our culture, an awareness of the legal liabilities and challenges faced by congregational leaders is essential. Gain insights on evaluating and managing your congregation's legal responsibilities.

ADMINISTRATION : Legal Matters 

Accountable Leadership: A Resource Guide for Sustaining Legal, Financial, and Ethical Integrity in Today's Congregations (Book)
Paul Chaffee, Author.  San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 1997.
This interesting book provides overviews of important aspects of congregational leadership and surveys resources that can help leaders better understand their responsibilities.

ChurchLawToday.com (Web Resource)
Carol Stream, IL: Christianity Today, Inc
ChurchLawToday.com is a Web site dedicated to providing extensive information on tax, legal, and risk management issues for church leaders—including clergy, staff, and volunteers.

Legal Guide for Day-to-Day Church Matters: A Handbook for Pastors and Church Members (Book)
Cynthia Mazur, Ronald Bullis, Authors.  Cleveland, OH: Pilgrim Press, 2003.
The authors, both ministers and attorneys, provide a primer (in question/answer format) to the laws affecting clergy and churches, the actions that can result in litigation, and the procedures that can help avoid such litigation.

Ministry and the American Legal System: A Guide for Clergy, Lay Workers, and Congregations (Book)
Richard B. Couser, Author.  Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 1993.
Ministry and the American Legal System provides an overview of the history, form, and function of the American legal system and its interface with religious institutions and belief.

Legal Issues and Religious Counseling (Book)
Ronald Bullis, Cynthia Mazur, Authors.  Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1993.
This book outlines the laws governing religious counselors, the primary reasons for which these counselors are sued (deficient quality of counseling, breach of confidentiality, and sexual misconduct), and ways to avoid such litigation.

Ministry and the Law: What You Need to Know (Book)
Mary Angela Shaughnessy, Author.  Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1998.
Ministry and the Law briefly reviews the laws affecting ministry, the types of lawsuits filed most frequently against clergy and churches, and the ways clergy and churches (particularly Catholic) can avoid litigation.