Senior Editorial Advisor
Sarah E. Merkle
Sarah is one of five attorneys in the world to have earned the credentials Certified Professional Parliamentarian-Teacher and Professional Registered Parliamentarian. She helps boards, associations, churches, nonprofits, and public bodies navigate rules applicable to governance and business meetings. Sarah is the editor of the blog, The Law of Order: A Resource on Parliamentary Procedure & the Law, providing accessible answers to organizations’ most common questions.
Sarah became an Editorial Advisor for Church Law & Tax in 2018, and a Senior Editorial Advisor in 2020.
Recent Articles by Sarah E. Merkle View All
ChurchLawAndTax.com
Meetings Matter: A Crash Course for Church Leaders 
Quick tips and insights for effectively running anything from a board meeting to a congregational meeting.
ChurchLawAndTax.com
Mastering Meeting Basics
A five-part series providing simple and straightforward guidance to church leaders.
ChurchLawAndTax.com
Running a Virtual Church Business Meeting
A quick guide to conducting church business virtually.
ChurchLawAndTax.com
Taking Minutes at a Church Business Meeting
How to properly document the official actions taken at a meeting.
ChurchLawAndTax.com
Voting at a Church Business Meeting
Four primary methods of voting that members and leaders should understand.
ChurchLawAndTax.com
Making Motions at a Church Business Meeting
Four questions to help ensure your motions follow proper parliamentary procedure.
ChurchLawAndTax.com
Preparing for a Church Business Meeting
How to structure effective, legally sound meetings—and set their agendas.
ChurchLawAndTax.com
Do Your Church’s Governing Documents Allow Virtual Business Meetings?
Answering this crucial question can help legally validate decisions made during the coronavirus outbreak—and beyond.
ChurchLawAndTax.com
5 Questions Churches Should Ask Before Holding a Virtual Business Meeting
How church leaders can ensure their decisions are valid if an in-person meeting isn’t possible.
ChurchLawAndTax.com
How to Take a Vote in 5 Easy Steps
What you need to know to keep a meeting moving along.
