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Asked, Answered: The Importance of Governing Documents

Matt Branaugh reminds church leaders what they need to be looking for when it comes to church governing documents.

The Editors

Does your church have governing documents? If you’re a pastor, do you know where those documents are located?

It’s a question every pastor and church leader should ask, and it’s the topic of this Asked, Answered from Church Law & Tax’s Matt Branaugh.

The topic bubbled to the surface recently in the ongoing controversy at Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, where the absence of governing documents such as a corporate charter, constitution, or bylaws has complicated things for the 132-year-old church that is part of the Southern Baptist Convention.
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Church Law & Tax members enjoy plenty of access to resources on this topic, including:

For Basic and Advantage Members: Richard Hammar explains the basics of church bylaws.

Meanwhile, Advantage Members get 20 percent off Hammar’s Church Governance – What Leaders Must Know to Conduct Legally Sound Church Business when purchased through the Church Law & Tax Store.

This content is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. "From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations." Due to the nature of the U.S. legal system, laws and regulations constantly change. The editors encourage readers to carefully search the site for all content related to the topic of interest and consult qualified local counsel to verify the status of specific statutes, laws, regulations, and precedential court holdings.

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