Church Law Podcast

What does it mean to be a Gracist — and why is racial unity essential to the mission of the Church? In this powerful episode of the Church Law Podcast , The Church Attorney® is joined by Dr. David Anderson, one of the world’s leading voices on racial reconciliation, faith, and bridge-building. As the founder of Gracism Global and senior pastor of one of America's most multicultural churches, D...

Are you a ministry leader in a season of transition, questioning your next steps, or navigating a succession plan? You are not alone — and you are not failing. In this special LIVE edition of The Church Law Podcast, The Church Attorney® is joined by Dr. Monique Flemings for a timely conversation titled “Still Called, Still Faithful: Why Shifting Isn’t Failing.” This episode is especially for pasto...

As the year comes to a close, churches often face a whirlwind of activity—but overlooking year-end financial and legal responsibilities can lead to lasting consequences. In this episode, host Erika Cole, The Church Attorney®, is joined by Bob Dye, founder of the Good Shepherd Bookkeeping Solutions and a seasoned financial consultant and former church leader, to discuss what churches must focus on...

In this inspiring episode of The Church Law Podcast, host Erika Cole, The Church Attorney®, sits down with Nicole Baker Fulgham, founder of The Townsend Collaborative, former Chief Impact Officer at Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, and current Bridgespan Fellow with the Racial Equity in Philanthropy team.  Nicole shares her remarkable journey—from her beginnings in education wit...

In this episode of the Church Law Podcast, Erika Cole, The Church Attorney®, sits down with Dr. Warren Bird—one of the nation’s foremost researchers and authors on large churches—to explore the future of the large church in 2025 and beyond. From pastoral succession and multisite models to digital ministry and community impact, Dr. Bird shares fresh insights from decades of groundbreaking research....

In this episode of the Church Law Podcast , Erika sits down with Latasha Morrison—speaker, author, certified trainer in cultural intelligence and unconscious bias, and founder of Be the Bridge . Latasha has devoted her life to racial reconciliation and equipping church leaders to foster unity in the body of Christ. Together, we explore the church’s responsibility to lead the charge in healing raci...

In this special episode of the Church Law Podcast , Erika Cole, The Church Attorney®, gives you an exclusive preview of the 18th Annual Church Law and Leadership Summit , happening Thursday, September 18, 2025 . With the theme “For Such a Time as This: Standing Firm, Serving Strong,” this year’s Summit is more than just an event—it’s a divine appointment for pastors, church leaders, and faith-base...

In this episode of The Church Law Podcast, host Erika Cole, The Church Attorney®, sits down with Rev. Dr. Nicole Massie Martin—COO of Christianity Today and author of Nailing It: Why Successful Leadership Demands Suffering & Surrender —to explore how church leaders can navigate challenging times with wisdom, integrity, and grace. Together, they tackle key issues such as scaling ministries with...

In this episode of The Church Law Podcast, Erika Cole, The Church Attorney®, sits down with Nathan “Nate” Adams, partner at Holland & Knight, to unpack the essentials of trademark protection for churches. Whether your church is newly launched or generations old, this conversation will help you understand how to protect your name, avoid common legal pitfalls, and steward your ministry wisely. ...

In this episode of The Church Law Podcast, Erika Cole, The Church Attorney®, dives into the vital topic of maintaining your church’s tax-exempt status. With over 25 years of experience guiding ministries of all sizes, Erika unpacks what tax exemption really means, the top five ways churches unknowingly put their status at risk, and real-life cautionary tales from churches that lost theirs. Learn h...

In this episode of the Church Law Podcast , Erika welcomes back special guest Matthew Branaugh, attorney and editor at Church Law & Tax. Together, they tackle a variety of legal and tax questions submitted by you, our listeners—offering valuable guidance to help churches and ministries navigate complex issues. Topics include volunteer background checks, receiving property from another church,...

In this episode, Erika provides essential guidance to help churches and ministries stay ahead of shifting legal and compliance requirements under the new administration. Learn critical steps your ministry must take to remain compliant and secure while discovering the invaluable support offered through Faithful Foundations Membership. Don’t let your ministry be caught off guard—stay informed, prepa...

In this episode, Erika tackles a critical issue facing churches and ministries—immigration law and its evolving impact on faith-based organizations. With rapid policy shifts, many churches serving immigrant communities are left wondering how to navigate the legal landscape effectively.   To provide expert insight, Erika welcomes guest, Lina Hughes, a seasoned immigration attorney with over 26 year...

This podcast episode, hosted by Erika Cole, The Church Attorney®, features employment law expert Tiffany Releford. The discussion provides valuable insights into employment law as it applies to churches and nonprofit organizations. Topics include distinguishing between employees and independent contractors, the implications of part-time versus full-time status, and how recent federal executive ord...

In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked importance of rest in leadership, especially for those in ministry. Erika is joined by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, a Board-Certified internal medicine physician, work-life integration researcher, and author of Sacred Rest. Together, we discuss how rest is not a luxury but a sacred commitment that leaders must prioritize to serve others effectively. Ch...

Hammar, attorney, CPA, and co-founder of Church Law & Tax . Rich reflects on his more than 40-year career representing churches and informing them through his articles for Church Law & Tax and his many books, including Pastor, Church & Law, Fifth Edition , and the annual Church & Clergy Tax Guide .  The two discuss the top five reasons churches and religious organizations go to cou...

So, you’ve planted your church, and it has entered a growth phase. And with that growth has come added responsibility, stress, and pressure.  Therefore, it’s understandable that you might be considering bringing in someone to help. Should that someone be an executive pastor? David “Fletch” Fletcher, founder of XPastor.com and an advisor-at-large for Church Law & Tax, is known as the “Dean of Execu...

Many churches make it out of their infancies and early years and hit their strides as they approach the double-digit years of existence. When a church’s life cycle reaches this point, it’s easy for its leaders to focus on what got them there. But that can be a misstep. In this episode, Erika talks with Brad Hill, Gloo’s chief solutions officer, about how thriving, expanding churches can maximize t...

Pastors Soboma and Faith Wokoma weren’t planning to start a church. But bringing 17 people together for connection, coupled with earnest commitments to prayer, eventually led to launching Legacy Center Church in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Eight years later, the church draws about 350 people a week. The church is at a stage some consider “the messy middle” of ministry: Operations have grown, the...

Three years ago, Harvest Valley Church was a dream—a vision—to reach the people of Horace, North Dakota. From humble beginnings meeting in coffee shops to forming small groups to using a “portable” approach from week to week, the church has grown to nearly 500 people as it approaches its third anniversary. How does a church like this start right and grow in a healthy way? In this episode, Erika sp...

A new season of the Church Law podcast is here!  In this episode, Erika discusses this season’s theme: The lifecycle of a church.  Whether a church is launching, growing, thriving, or declining, there are important administrative, legal, and spiritual tasks and responsibilities to address.  This season will walk church leaders through each of these seasons, offering the guidance and direction they...

There’s no shortage of economic indicators and reports to read, and as we near the halfway point of 2024, church leaders likely wonder where everything is heading.  Inflation persists and interest rates still hover near recent historic highs. Unemployment remains low, but new jobs reports suggest that may be changing. Many stocks have posted impressive returns while housing prices continue surging...

It’s election season in the United States, and after contentious races nationwide in 2020 and 2022, 2024 promises to bring even more heat.  The Oval Office is up for grabs. All 435 seats in the US House are on ballots, as are 34 in the Senate. Add to that a slate of 13 gubernatorial elections and countless state and local elections, and measures. What is a church leader to do? Should pastors speak...

Producer’s Note: This podcast episode addresses a very sensitive topic. Listener discretion is advised. The statistics are staggering: one in three girls and one in five boys in America will be sexually abused before they turn 18, and 90 percent of victims know their abusers. Church Law & Tax’s legal research shows that abuse claims are a perennially top reason churches and religious organizations...

Like it or not, church leaders need to think about insurance coverage. While ministry always should be driven first by the unique call God places upon a congregation, good stewardship still requires anticipating the possible risks a congregation will encounter and mitigating them.  In this episode, Peter Persuitti—the global managing director of Gallagher Insurance Company’s nonprofit and religiou...