One quick way to reduce your church’s liability is to make sure your church is incorporated as anon-profit corporation. Why does this matter? If your church is not a non-profit corporation, you are an unincorporated association. You may have been an unincorporated association for years and years. A good indication that your church is formed as an u…

As a church leader, you are pulled in many different directions. Sunday is always coming, there are meetings, counseling sessions, and lots of sheep in the flock that need to be led. With so many things to keep up with, its easy to ignore the things that are most important. Since the squeaky wheel gets the grease, what happens if the wheels are abo…

Today, we will provide actionable tips on how to legally use music, images, videos, and other creative works in your ministry while respecting the rights of content creators. We'll also discuss practical steps to educate your church staff and volunteers on copyright matters, creating a culture of compliance and respect for intellectual property. Th…

Welcome to The Church Counsel Podcast! Our show is hosted by seasoned attorney Travis Story and this episode aims to empower churches with the knowledge they need to avoid potential violations. Today, we will will provide actionable tips on how to legally use music, images, videos, and other creative works in your ministry while respecting the righ…

One of the most overlooked rights and responsibilities of a church is something everyone sees all the time. One of the many jobs of your church or organization is communication, however, to do that well, you use images and branding in a way, which could cause copyright or trademark issues in the future. In todays episode we will break down the diff…

This podcast will explore the roles and responsibilities of officers in a church and a non profit board of directors. We will discuss the different types of officers, their roles and responsibilities, and how to ensure proper governance and oversight. We will also look at the different types of board members, such as members-at-large, executive dir…

In this episode, Travis will discuss what types of service animals are allowed inside a church building. We will explore the different types of service animals, such as emotional support animals and guide dogs. We will discuss the relevant laws and regulations that pertain to service animals and churches. We will also provide some tips on how to en…

In this episode, Travis will discuss how to apply the priest–penitent privilege. We will review the basics of the priest–penitent privilege, such as what types of communications are considered privileged and what types of religious beliefs and legal systems this applies to. We will then discuss practical considerations such as when to invoke the pr…

The clergy (priest)-penitent privilege is one of the oldest and most well-recognized privileges in the United States. In today's episode Travis will define the term and explain how it applies to various religious beliefs and legal systems. We will explore the different types of communications that are protected under this privilege and how it affec…

In this show, Travis will discuss the importance of mandated reporting and how it applies to your church. We will explore what mandated reporting is and who is responsible to report at your church or organization. We will discuss the different types of abuse that may lead to a mandated reporting situation and provide questions to help people determ…

Join us on the Church Counsel podcast as Travis dives into the important topic of developing a church constitution and bylaws. We'll explore the reasons why having a clear and well-written constitution and bylaws is crucial for any church, as well as the key elements that should be included in these documents. We'll also discuss the process of crea…

In todays episode, Travis will be discussing the reasons why a church may choose to update their mission statement, bylaws, or other key documents, as well as the process for doing so. There are many considerations to make in making these changes and Travis shares recent experiences where these changes have been made and implemented. Whether you're…

Today we're focusing on the unique challenges of protecting a church's preschool ministry. From background checks for staff and volunteers, to creating a safe and secure environment for the children, there are many important steps that must be taken to ensure the safety of our youngest members. Travis will share his expertise in the field of child …

Welcome to the Church Counsel Podcast, this unique podcast is our inaugural celebration of everything Church Law related. Join Attorney Travis W. Story as he enlightens you about the in's and out's of Church Law. If your church is needing help lowering your liability, securing your foundational documents, or working any of your policies and procedu…