Resources for Churches

Click the headings below to expand the list of available resources.

Church Governance

• + Security

• • Church Security FAQ
  • Churches and Hate Crimes
  • Church Security Recommendations

• + Church Autonomy

• • Can Religious Organizations Discriminate in Hiring?
  • Internal Affairs FAQ
  • Church Autonomy White Paper - Protecting Churches From Government Interference

• + Governing Documents

• • Seven Things All Churches Should Have in Their Bylaws
  • Suggested Bylaw Language for Select Topics
  • The Importance of a Membership Policy
  • Model Membership Agreement
  • Procedure for Member Discipline/Membership Revocation
  • Procedure for Rescinding Membership
  • Job Descriptions & Religious Grounds for Limiting Employment
  • Business With Conviction: Employer Religious Beliefs
  • Religious Belief Regarding Marriage
  • Church Facility Use Policy

• + Legal Documents and Law Reviews

• • Brief Explaining Religious Organization Exemptions to Employment Discrimination Laws – Kennedy v. Villa St. Catherine
  • Brief Explaining Church Autonomy in Hiring Decisions - EEOC v. Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School
  • Lawsuit Filed to Protect Church From Disruption of Worship Service - Mount Hope Church v. Bash Back  

Churches & Politics

• + General Resources

• • Campaign Finance Law FAQ
  • Churches and Voter Drives
  • Do's and Don'ts for Political Activities of Pastors
  • Guidelines for "Political Activities" by Churches and Pastors
  • Guidelines for Distribution of Voter Guides by Churches

• + Legal Documents and Law Reviews

• • Brief Explaining Rights of Religious Organizations to Petition Government - Freedom from Religion Foundation v. Shirley Dobson, Nat'l Day of Prayer
  • Ninth Circuit Opinion Protecting Church's Right to Influence Legislation - Canyon Ferry Road Baptist Church v. Unsworth
  • Prince or Pauper? Religious Proselytizing and the First Amendment
  • LBJ, the IRS, and Churches: The Unconstitutionality of the Johnson Amendment in Light of Recent Supreme Court Precedent as published in the Regent University Law Review, Vol. 24, #2, 2011-2012

• + Pulpit Initiative

• • View the Pulpit Freedom Sunday resource page
  • Pulpit Freedom Sunday FAQ
  • Pulpit Freedom Initiative Executive Summary
  • Pulpit Initiative White Paper for Sermons Addressing Candidates
  • The Alliance Defending Freedom Pulpit Initiative: What It Is, What It's Not
  • History of the Johnson Amendment
  • Pulpit Freedom Talking Points
  • Sign-up to participate in the Pulpit Initiative
  • 2011 Pulpit Freedom Participant List

Equal Access

• + General Resources

• • Equal Access FAQ

• + Legal Documents and Law Reviews

• • Brief Explaining Church's Right to Equal Access Public Meeting Rooms - Faith Center Church Evangelistic Ministries v. Glover – Motion for Summary Judgment
  • Brief Explaining Church's Right to Equal Access to Government Programs - American Atheists v. City of Detroit – Brief
  • Court Order Protecting Church's Right to Access Public Meeting Rooms - Faith Center Church Evangelistic Ministries v. Glover
  • Lawsuit Filed to Protect Church's Right to Access Public Park - St. Faustina Old Catholic Church v. City of Pensacola
  • Sixth Circuit Opinion Protecting Church's Access to Government Programs - American Atheists v. City of Detroit

Religious Freedom

• + General Resources

• • Government Programs FAQ
  • Land Use FAQ
  • When to Contact Alliance Defending Freedom
    
  • Guidelines for Scouting Membership Policy
    
  • Seasonal Religious Expression – Celebrating Christmas in Public Places
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  • Faith Under Fire: “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Resource Page
  • The Rights of Religious Employees

• + Legal Documents and Law Reviews

• • Case Upholding Religious Group's Right to Petition for Public Prayer Proclamations – Freedom From Religion Foundation v. Ritter

Sermon Tools

• + General Resources

• • Same Sex Marriage FAQ
  • "What About Homosexuality?"
  • Marriage Talking Points