Designed for those who are not lawyers, accountants, or quasi-legal specialists, this book outlines the elements of risk management for congregations and church professionals. Divided into three parts, the guide provides an overview and history of the American legal system, details various areas of the law, and focuses on ways religious organizations can minimize their exposure to legal difficulties.

This updated and expanded second edition of the Ministry and the American Legal System provides a user-friendly introduction to the subject, Taking a clear structural framework, it guides the reader through the subject's core elements. A flowing writing style combines with the use of illustrations and diagrams throughout the text to ensure the reader understands even the most complex of concepts. This succinct and enlightening overview is a required reading for all those interested in the subject . We hope you find this book useful in shaping your future career & Business. Feel free to send us your inquiries related to our publications to [email protected]

Christian churches and organizations have become involuntary guests in the courtrooms of America. We live in an age of litagation, and believing that Christians should avoid legal action does not make them exempt. This resource, written by a Christian lawyer, offers invaluable advice on how to prevent costly and damaging lawsuits through legal wisdom in ministry practices.

Stay Out Of Court And Stay In Ministry is written to help pastors prevent costly and career-ending lawsuits. It sets forth the most common legal claims asserted against religious organizations, and the defenses churches have successfully raised. ... We describe real-life legal claims against churches and analyze the outcomes, pro or con. We focus on the claims most frequently asserted against churches. Some of the trends defy conventional wisdom. For example, there are few suits for clergy malpractice, but many successful suits for slippery sidewalks. (from the Introduction) Your book should be required reading for every church pastor and primary lay leader, along with the property board chairperson ... excellent illustrations. Rev. Carl Buettemeier Newport Lutheran Church Newport, Minnesota Hagglund and Weimer ... give just enough information to understand and act responsibly. At the same time they do not bury the reader with legalese ... I especially appreciate the list of specific suggestions at the end of each chapter. Rev. Thomas D. Harris St. Nicholas Episcopal Church Richfield, Minnesota I know there are very specific changes I will make in my ministry because of reading this book. Paul D. Johnson Senior Pastor, Woodridge Church National Director of Church Planting, Baptist General Conference Clarance E. Hagglund, J.D., is a litigation attorney practicing primarily in insurance coverage, professional liability, and other complex commercial litigation, trial and appellate. He is a Civil Trial Specialist certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy; a National Board of Trial Advocacy Director; a Diplomate with the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys; and a member of the Professional Liability Section of the Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel. He is a member of The Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis. Britton D. Weimer, J.D., is a litigation attorney practicing primarily in insurance and commercial litigation, trial and appellate. He is licensed to practice law in Texas, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Weimer has authored articles published in Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel Quarterly, the Real Estate Law Journal, the Hofstra Property Law Journal, and the Banking Law Journal. He is a member of Woodridge Church in Medina, Minnesota.

This collection, by leading legal scholars, judges and practitioners, together with theologians and church historians, presents historical, theological, philosophical and legal perspectives on Christianity and criminal law. Following a Preface by Lord Judge, formerly Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, and an introductory chapter, the book is divided into four thematic sections. Part I addresses the historical contributions of Christianity to criminal law drawing on biblical sources, early church fathers and canonists, as far as the Enlightenment. Part II, titled Christianity and the principles of criminal law, compares crime and sin, examines concepts of mens rea and intention, and considers the virtue of due process within criminal justice. Part III looks at Christianity and criminal offences, considering their Christian origins and continuing relevance for several basic crimes that every legal system prohibits. Finally, in Part IV, the authors consider Christianity and the enforcement of criminal law, looking at defences, punishment and forgiveness. The book will be an invaluable resource for students and academics working in the areas of Law and Religion, Legal Philosophy and Theology.

"What is a church and what work does "church"-the church-do today in American law? In Church State Corporation, Sullivan argues that the appeals to "the church" we find in legal opinions express what she calls a "Christian mystical political theology" that naturalizes religion in the American legal imagination and limits the law's ability to acknowledge religion more broadly. To pinpoint the work the church does in US law, Sullivan examines two recent Supreme Court cases, Hosanna-Tabor v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (2012) and Burwell v. Hobby Lobby (2014), in order to map the contours of the "church-shaped space" at the heart of what constitutes religion in US law. Sullivan also examines a constellation of church property cases, cases developing corporate personhood such as Citizens United, and what the "Angola Church"-a collection of churches formed within the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola-reveals about the range of the church's influence in US law. In all, the reader is treated to a remarkably thought-provoking analysis of the ways the church persists in US law, one that calls into question our basic assumptions about our supposedly secular age"--

Have you ever thought of Jesus as a lawyer? It may sound odd, but at times in His ministry, Jesus wore his lawyer hat. When he defended the adulterous woman, when he argued from Scripture that the disciples were fine to pick grain on the Sabbath, and in other instances, Jesus insightfully applied to uphold justice and promote goodwill. The legal aspects of Jesus’ ministry have long been obscured or misunderstood, particularly his interactions with and attitude toward the law and lawyers. Jesus’ desire in his day and ours is to use the law to secure the rights of people to hear the gospel and to set humanity free. In other words, to be the best citizens we can be, we need to follow in the footsteps of the greatest citizen who ever lived. Jesus in the Courtroom covers topics like: Why we should care about the law Strategic involvement with the law How God has used the law to expand His kingdom What can happen when we partner with legal professionals How citizenship is part of discipleship Christian citizenship in matters like adoption, abortion, minimum wage, foster care, and schools We are citizens of two kingdoms, but many of us duck and run when it comes to civil life. For anyone who cares about their community—parents, teachers, pastors, you name it—engagement with our legal system can play a huge role in the health of our communities and in cultivating a context where the gospel can flourish. Jesus in the Courtroom will help us understand not only why we have failed to appreciate the legal aspect of Jesus’ life, but also to understand and cooperate with his legal ministry to us and through us. If we are going to be faithful “citizen disciples” in this challenging new world, we need to look anew at how Jesus taught, thought, and interacted with the legal establishment of his day.