Every week, the National Center for Life and Liberty (NCLL) receives calls from churches and ministries blindsided by lawsuits, government overreach, or unexpected legal issues.
Our mission is simple: to stand in the legal gap, so pastors and ministry leaders can remain focused on sharing the Gospel without the crushing weight of legal battles.
This month, we’re sharing three real-life legal threats that reveal just how quickly a ministry can be derailed: tax bills that threatened to bankrupt churches, a serious injury that exposed hidden liability, and a lease that turned risky without warning.
This Month’s Featured Cases
A Tax Nightmare Across Three Congregations
Over the course of just a few months, three separate churches in different counties were hit with massive property tax bills. Exemptions they had held for years were suddenly revoked without explanation.
One church received a bill for nearly $60,000 in retroactive assessments. Another faced foreclosure threats if they didn’t pay a six-figure balance within 45 days. The third was told their exemption didn’t apply to part of their parking lot, resulting in new annual taxes that would double their building maintenance budget.
They turned to NCLL.
We coordinated legal appeals, challenged the misapplication of state law, and met directly with local assessors and county attorneys. In the end, we not only helped each church with these assessment issues, but we also helped protect several million dollars in church property.
More importantly, each church received clear guidance on how to maintain their exemptions and proactively respond to future audits.
A Volunteer Injury Becomes a Legal Emergency
During a weeklong youth camp hosted by a local church, a longtime volunteer slipped during setup and suffered a severe back injury. Everyone assumed it was minor. Then the volunteer hired a personal injury attorney and filed a claim.
Because the volunteer was not on payroll, the church did not have workers’ compensation coverage. The claim moved forward as a general liability lawsuit, and the legal exposure was staggering.
That is when the church called NCLL.
We helped the church navigate the legal claim, review its insurance policies, and work with outside counsel to mitigate liability. At the same time, we helped church leadership implement clear policies for volunteer agreements, liability waivers, and training that would protect both the church and its volunteers going forward.
What started as a routine camp setup could have bankrupted the church. Because they acted quickly, they resolved the issue and put stronger protections in place for the future.
A Lease Turns Risky Without a Word in Writing
A growing church in the Midwest had generously opened its doors to a smaller congregation that needed space. The two groups coexisted for over a year, sharing the facility for Sunday worship and midweek gatherings.
Then, without warning, the larger church received a letter from an attorney. The tenant congregation was alleging a breach of verbal agreement, seeking compensation, and implying partial ownership rights over the property.
There was no lease. No written expectations. Just goodwill — and now a legal crisis.
The church called NCLL.
We quickly investigated and found a troubling paper trail. Shared promotional materials, email chains, and informal meeting minutes had created confusion about property rights. The church now faced a real risk of drawn-out litigation over a building it had fully paid for years before.
Our team intervened to defuse the situation and negotiated a peaceful resolution. We then drafted a proper lease agreement, formalized property use policies, and trained the board on how to prevent future confusion over partnerships.
What started as an act of hospitality nearly became a lawsuit. Because they called early, the church preserved their mission and their property.
Looking Ahead
These real-life cases remind us why we do what we do. When churches and ministries face lawsuits or legal threats, resources meant for outreach are diverted to legal defense.
By coming alongside them, we help ensure they can continue preaching the Gospel, serving their communities, and shaping lives for Christ.
