Church Law & Tax Report
July/August 2011
Feature Article
A Valuable Tax Credit for Churches 
How Small Church Staffs May Benefit from a Health Care Reform Provision
Articles
Clawing Out of the Recession 
How churches are faring during the slow economic recovery.
Supreme Court Tackles "Ministerial Exception" 
High Court will examine rule's scope.
Recent Developments
Issues that affect ministers and churches, with Richard R. Hammar
Sexual Misconduct by Clergy, Lay Employees, and Volunteers
Statute of Limitations Prevents Church from Being Sued 
Court rules statute of limitations prevents 23-year-old male from suing a church six years after abuse from youth pastor took place.
Compensation and Benefits; Overtime Pay
Application of the FLSA Minimum Wage and Overtime Requirements to a Church Employee 
New York court rules Episcopal church custodian not entitled to overtime or minimum wage under FLSA.
Compensation and Benefits
Compensation Dispute 
Court rules that it's against the First Amendment to resolve a priest's compensation dispute with his diocese.
Child Abuse
Sex Offender Sentenced to Life Term of Supervised Release 
A federal appeals court ruled that sentence did not amount to "cruel and unusual" punishment.
Sexual Misconduct by Clergy, Lay Employees, and Volunteers
Church Held Liable for Pastor's Abuse of Minors 
Church without "never-alone" policy is held responsible for children who were sexually abused by pastor.
Insurance
Church's Insurance Policy Prevents Coverage 
Sexual injuries to three minors at a church preschool aren't covered by church's insurance policy.
Sexual Misconduct by Clergy, Lay Employees, and Volunteers
Catholic Archdiocese Not Held Responsible for Sexual Abuse 
Federal court rules archdiocese not responsible for negligent hiring in sexual abuse case, based on no prior knowledge of wrongful act by priest.
Q&A
Q&A: Are Quorums Always Needed? 
The answer to this question may be found in one of three sources.