We’re pleased to announce the Church Law & Tax 2020 Webinar Series.
In our conversations with many of you, you told us you wanted a Church Law & Tax webinar as often as once a month. We’ve responded, planning at least ten webinars for this year. Many of you also indicated you’d like the opportunity to have more time for questions at the end of the webinars. We hear you, and we’re committed to finding ways we can incorporate more Q&A into all upcoming webinars. Our upcoming series also reflects the topics many of you suggested, as well as topics relevant to current events, often presented by well-respected speakers you requested.
As noted below, this year’s series features a combination of free webinars open to everyone as well as a set of webinars available exclusively to Church Law & Tax Advantage Members. (Not an Advantage Member? Learn how to become one.)
We encourage you to bookmark this page to check back regularly as we continue to announce upcoming and future webinars. You can also sign up for our five free Church Law & Tax e-newsletters or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn to find out what’s coming up.
Church Law & Tax’s 2020 Webinar Series
Upcoming Webinars
We have officially completed our webinar series for 2020! While our team prepares for our next series, we encourage you to look back at the webinars we’ve done this past year. They are listed below and available to watch on-demand.
Previous Webinars
“Top Tax Developments for 2020 ,” January 22, 2020. This Advantage Member webinar, presented by Church Law & Tax’s senior editor Richard Hammar, covered key tax developments church leaders must know for the year ahead, including the upcoming income tax filing season. Become an Advantage Member to watch the recording!
“The 5 Most Misunderstood Aspects of Unrelated Business Income for Churches,” February 26, 2020. This free webinar featured a presentation by CPA Michael Batts, a Church Law & Tax senior editorial advisor and nationally recognized expert on unrelated business income for churches and ministries. Batts has written extensively on the topic, and he provided insight, information, and useful instruction for church and ministry leaders who increasingly face this complex issue.
“15 Things Richard Hammar Wants Pastors to Know,” March 18, 2020. This Advantage Member webinar, presented by Church Law & Tax’s senior editor Richard Hammar, takes a closer look at 15 critical issues Hammar has identified during his more than 40 years of legal practice that churches, pastors, and church leaders often overlook or neglect—to their peril. Become an Advantage Member for access to this exclusive webinar and more!
“Churches and the CARES Act: Helping Congregations and Employees Weather the Cash Crunch,” April 2, 2020. This free webinar, presented by Church Law & Tax’s senior editor Richard Hammar, provides a helpful overview of the 900-page stimulus package, how it works, and the provisions churches and leaders should know to minister well to their congregations and communities.
“Church Financial Management in Challenging Times,” April 23, 2020. The COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, and the accompanying “stay-at-home” directives underway in most states, present numerous challenges to churches, particularly with respect to financial management. This free webinar features a presentation by CPA Michael Batts, where he directly addresses the financial management challenges pastors and church leaders are facing.
“Making Sure Your Virtual Church Meeting Is Legally Valid,” May 5, 2020. This free webinar, presented by attorney Sarah E. Merkle, offers expert, step-by-step guidance for pastors, board chairs, and board members on how to conduct virtual church business meetings that are legally valid, protecting and preserving any votes or decisions ultimately made. Merkle is a Church Law & Tax senior editorial advisor and author of the newly released Your Complete Guide to Virtual Church Meetings: A toolkit for legal and compliant business meetings.
“Our Church Got a PPP Loan—Now What?” May 20, 2020. Many congregations have received a PPP loan to help cover payroll and other operational expenses while weathering the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. What they do next is critical. In this free webinar with CPA and tax attorney Ted Batson, church leaders receive guidance on the types of expenses the PPP loan can cover. They also get a step-by-step tutorial on how to navigate the loan forgiveness process when their eight-week periods expire.
“Politics in the Church: What to Know for the 2020 Election,” June 17, 2020. To maintain exemption from federal income taxes, churches must comply with several requirements specified in section 501(c)(3) of the tax code. Two of these requirements involve political activities. So, how should church leaders navigate them as the 2020 election season heats up? And what happens if they violate them? In this exclusive Advantage Member webinar, renowned church attorney and CPA Richard R. Hammar explores the requirements and discusses how leaders should approach this sensitive, and often volatile, issue.
“Child Abuse: Emerging Trends from the Biggest Legal Threat to Churches,” July 22, 2020. Child abuse is one of the top reasons churches go to court each year. In this free webinar, attorney and Church Law & Tax’s senior editor Richard Hammar discussed emerging trends in child abuse court cases and provided best practices you should follow to keep your church, and more importantly, your children safe.
“Keeping Internal Controls In Check During a Pandemic,” August 19, 2020. Covid-19 has forced churches to approach worship services, donations, and administrative tasks differently. In light of these changes, what other changes should be implemented and reviewed when it comes to internal controls? In this free webinar, CPA and Church Law & Tax’s senior editorial advisor Vonna Laue discussed common internal control practices and the adjustments churches need to make as a result of the pandemic.
“Rethinking Your Church’s Budgeting Process for 2021,” September 9, 2020. To say that recent and current social and cultural developments have significantly affected church budgets would be a dramatic understatement. So, how do church leaders address budgeting for the future? CPA and Church Law & Tax Senior Editorial Advisor Mike Batts joined us for this Advantage Member exclusive webinar to answer this question and challenge church leaders to completely overhaul their areas of financial focus.
“Confronting Harassment in the Church,” October 21, 2020. Workplace sexual harassment has gained renewed attention after recent high-profile cases emerged in the realms of entertainment, media, sports, and politics. Regrettably, churches aren’t immune from the problem of harassment, as a new Church Law & Tax survey report shows. In this free webinar, attorney Theresa Sidebotham discusses confronting harassment, defining the problem, setting prevention and training measures, and she explains the ways leaders can foster the type of healthy culture that honors Christ.
“Tripping Point for Pastoral Compensation,” November 18, 2020. From navigating the housing allowance and its tax effects to understanding the unique issues involved in planning for retirement, a minister’s classification seems to bring confusion in the world of compensation planning. In this Advantage member exclusive webinar, CPA and Church Law & Tax senior editorial advisor Elaine Sommerville gave a valuable review of the details most essential to building a solid compensation package for ministerial team members.
“Tackling the Top Year-End Tasks for 2020,” December 9, 2020. As we near the end of 2020, there are important tasks you’ll need to make sure to check off your list. In this free webinar, renowned attorney and CPA Richard R. Hammar updated church leaders on the key tasks for correctly handling business expenses, housing allowances, charitable contributions, and other issues. Hammar also covered key developments related to COVID-19, including the CARES Act, and the tax-related implications the pandemic poses for churches, ministers, and congregants.
