Category: Governance
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What Happens When You Don’t File a Nonprofit Annual Report with Your State
Almost every state has an ongoing nonprofit annual report requirement for nonprofit corporations such as churches. This is business you need to take care of regularly. Or this could happen… Almost every year I get a panicked phone call or email from one of my churches. They’ve gotten a notice that their corporation was suspended…
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Do Church Boards Have to Use Robert’s Rules of Order?
A church planter challenged me recently on whether church boards have to use Robert’s Rules of Order to conduct meetings. I started digging around and opened a whole can of worms. His question came from a common place: I haven’t met a church planter yet that likes (understands?) Robert’s Rules. But it also came with…
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How to Digitally Sign Church Legal Documents to Save Time
How can you get legal documents signed quickly when your signer is across town or across the country? Use one of these digital signature software options to digitally sign church legal documents. Whether you’re a corporation or an unincorporated association, every church organization has legal documents to sign, like meeting minutes and bylaws. The old…
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Beware of a Fake Annual Report Notice in Your Mail
The tricksters are back at it, mailing out a fake annual report notice to unsuspecting churches. Here’s what they’re up to, how to spot it, and what to do. Depending on your state (see my growing reference list), your church corporation has to file some kind of annual renewal. It lets the state know that…
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How to Decide Between a Fall and Spring Church Plant Launch
It is generally acknowledged that there are 2 best windows for a church plant launch in the US: fall (Sep/Oct) and spring (Feb/Mar). How will you decide? The windows work kind of like a space shuttle landing – in its day, it couldn’t come down just anywhere. It had to wait for the window to…
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Should You Use Your Group’s Umbrella 501c3 Exemption?
Some church groups and denominations have set up an umbrella 501c3 exemption for their churches. There are pros and cons for your church plant if you choose this option. 501c3 is the official nonprofit, tax-exempt status of a charity that allows you to accept charitable donations, issue donation receipts, and not pay taxes as an…
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When to Push Back Church Launch
Church planting never goes quite like you think it’s going to. Some things will go better than you’ve imagined. Other things will be harder. A few planters will have to decide whether to push back church launch. What I mean by pushing back launch is punting until the next launch season, like from fall to…
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When Does a Management Team Win?
What is the end game for a church plant Management Team? When does a Management Team win? Understanding the Management Team win is important in recruiting team members and in keeping everyone shooting at the same target. You’ll have a Management Team for several years and even the best teams can experience mission drift. A…
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4 Reasons You Need a Church Plant Management Team
A church plant Management Team plays several crucial roles in supporting the planter during the early stages of the new church. Go without a Management Team and you’ll be at risk for the following reasons. If you’re starting a legally autonomous church congregation, you should not be flying solo until the someday that you can…