Every week, the National Center for Life and Liberty receives calls from pastors, ministry leaders, and Christian schools facing unexpected legal threats, some urgent and others that become serious before anyone realizes how far they have gone.
This month’s Insider Legal Briefing looks at three situations that could confront almost any church or ministry: a congregation facing pressure from local government, a building project hit with hundreds of thousands of dollars in disputed costs, and a Christian school threatened with legal action after disciplining a student.
Details have been adapted to protect the identity of the ministries involved.
When City Hall Came Calling
A church had been using its property for years for Sunday worship, Bible studies, youth activities, outreach programs, and other ministries serving local families.
Then the church received a citation from the city. Officials claimed that some of those activities were not permitted on the property, and additional notices followed with the possibility of further enforcement if the church did not make changes.
Church leaders were caught off guard. They had been using the property for ministry for years, and now they were being told that some of that work might have to stop.
The NCLL reviewed the citations, the church’s use of the property, and the actions being taken by local officials. Our attorneys stepped in to represent the church and were able to put further enforcement on hold while the dispute could be addressed.
The matter is still being resolved, but the church does not have to face the city alone or simply accept restrictions that could interfere with its ministry.
$250,000 the Church Never Planned to Spend
The church had been planning an expansion for years. As the congregation grew, it needed additional space for children’s programs and other ministries, and members had given generously to make the project possible.
After months of planning, the church signed an agreement with a contractor and construction got underway. Everything seemed to be moving forward as expected until the costs began to change.
Charges the church believed were covered by the original agreement began appearing as additions to the project. One increase followed another until the contractor claimed the church owed nearly $250,000 more than leadership had expected. Liens were then filed against the church property.
Church leaders now faced a serious financial and legal problem. Paying the disputed amount would consume money intended for ministry, while refusing to pay could leave the property tied up in liens and the construction project in jeopardy.
NCLL attorneys began reviewing the contracts, invoices, change orders, and liens to determine what the church had actually agreed to pay and what could be challenged. We are now working to protect the church’s interests and help its leaders resolve the dispute so they can complete the project their congregation sacrificed to make possible.
A Student Is Disciplined. Then an Attorney Calls.
A Christian school was struggling with a student whose behavior had become an ongoing problem for teachers and administrators.
The school worked with the student and her parents to address the issues, but after the behavior continued, administrators determined that stronger disciplinary action was necessary.
That is when the story changed.
The family began claiming the student had been singled out and treated unfairly. Events the school believed had been carefully documented were described very differently, and before long, an attorney contacted the school with allegations of discrimination.
School leaders suddenly found themselves defending far more than a disciplinary decision. The allegations called into question the actions of their teachers and administrators as well as the school’s right to enforce its own standards.
NCLL attorneys reviewed the school’s records, disciplinary policies, communications with the family, and the history leading up to the decision. We responded to the allegations and helped establish a clear record of what had actually occurred.
With experienced legal counsel handling the dispute, school leaders could stand behind a properly documented disciplinary decision and remain focused on running their school, supporting their teachers, and educating their students.
Looking Ahead
For the churches and school in these stories, the legal issues affected the everyday work of their ministries. One congregation faced restrictions on how it could use its property. Another found a long-planned building project caught in a six-figure dispute. A Christian school faced allegations of discrimination after disciplining a student.
These are the kinds of situations NCLL attorneys handle every week. Your support helps make experienced legal counsel available when churches and Christian ministries need it, protecting the resources, property, and freedom they rely on to carry out their work.
