Senior Editorial Advisor
Sarah E. Merkle
Sarah is an attorney, and a professional parliamentarian and presiding officer. One of five lawyers worldwide to have earned the credentials Certified Professional Parliamentarian-Teacher (CPP-T) and Professional Registered Parliamentarian (PRP), she helps boards, associations, churches, corporations, and public bodies navigate laws and rules applicable to governance and business meetings. Sarah is the blog editor and primary contributor for The Law of Order: A Resource on Parliamentary Procedure & the Law. She publishes resources relevant to virtual business meetings at virtualmeetinglaw.com.
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
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
4 Ways to Make an Agenda Work for You
Consider which approach may work best for your meetings.
ChurchLawAndTax.com
Why Taking Minutes Is a “Must”
Here are 4 reasons to take thorough, accurate minutes at your meetings.
ChurchLawAndTax.com
Making a Motion
Infographic: What making a main motion looks like during a meeting.
ChurchLawAndTax.com
Why You Should Remove Certain Reports from Your Meeting Agenda
And how to find which ones don't need to be presented.
ChurchLawAndTax.com
How to Keep Your Meetings Short
The secret to making meetings brief and efficient.
Church Finance Today
Meeting the Mandate
Church workers must get health insurance—five tips to help them.
Church Law & Tax Report
Developing an Emergency Operations Plan
Steps FEMA says churches should take now—before a crisis unfolds.
Church Law & Tax Report
Churches and Released Time Programs for Public Schools
Steps for developing and maintaining a constitutionally sound effort.
