County Trying To Stop Home Bible Studies

[James Griffin]

Good thoughts.

I have had several people coming to me lately asking me to act as incorporator for their 501 c 3.

There are advantages and disadvantages to this status but the first thing I make them understand is you do NOT have to have 501 c 3 status to be a church. You can incorporate as a non-profit with your state or even choose to forgo incorporation of any kind and still maintain status as a church.

The issus of regular meetings as a Bible study or a church would actually have great bearing for purposes of state being able to regulate vis a vis zoning etc.

This would be regardless of whether any money was collected period, and irrespective of its method of collection.

JAG

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by James Griffin

Pasor will win as long as designated a home Bible study as opposed to church.

JAG

So, is that reason behind this odd set of questions?

Originally Posted by rgcraig

Broyles said, "The county asked, 'Do you have a regular meeting in your home?' She said, 'Yes.' 'Do you say amen?' 'Yes.' 'Do you pray?' 'Yes.' 'Do you say praise the Lord?' 'Yes.'"

Do they think these answers indicate it's a church vs a Bible study?

[James Griffin]

Originally Posted by Timmy

So, is that reason behind this odd set of questions?



Do they think these answers indicate it's a church vs a Bible study?

I have no idea why the county representative asked those questions.

Seriously doubt he/she had enough legal acumen to understand the nuances.

HOWEVER, the county would have a different interest in a church holding regular meetings, inteferring with local traffic etc, than a Bible study.

IMO the latter would be about as impossible to regulate as a person having regular book club, or sports club meetings. The former would place it into a more debatable area as far as state/public rights.

One of my future radio segments will deal with liability and home church meetings so I have been following this incident.

:-)

[Scott Hutchinson]

Some folks are very agains't incorporation.
http://hushmoney.org/

[Scott Hutchinson]

This would be of interest here.
http://www.hccentral.com/gallagher/index.html

[mfblume]

AFA has a petition to sign to send to the county. I signed it. That ordeal from the county is antichrist and communistic!

[Baron1710]

Originally Posted by James Griffin

Pasor will win as long as designated a home Bible study as opposed to church.

JAG

Agreed. Assuming there are no weird facts that we don't know about this is pretty open and shut.

[Scott Hutchinson]

Check this out.
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.c...act_id=1285328

[James Griffin]

Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson

Some folks are very agains't incorporation.
http://hushmoney.org/

They are trying to sell their books.

Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson

This would be of interest here.
http://www.hccentral.com/gallagher/index.html

Not bad for a term paper, but really doesn't say anything as far a legal analysis

Originally Posted by mfblume

AFA has a petition to sign to send to the county. I signed it. That ordeal from the county is antichrist and communistic!

Not enough facts.

Originally Posted by Baron1710

Agreed. Assuming there are no weird facts that we don't know about this is pretty open and shut.

Yep.

[Falla39]

I have told my husband and children many times, as my late father was
always pressing the point! We need to individually have the Word of God
in our hearts and minds. There may be a day we will not have access to
a Bible. If we have the Word in our hearts and minds, when needed the
HOLY GHOST will pull it up for us just as we pull up what we have stored
in our computers. (It will bring all things to our rememberance whatsoever
I have said unto you.
I did not know until (about five years ago) I got my own personal computer,
how much like our "mind/brain" it was. What is put in, is what will come out,
when needed. I don't want what the world would put into my mind. The un-
godly and the vulgar things of this world. This world desires to press us all
into its mold, BUT Paul told the church at Rome,

Romans 12:1,2 - KJV
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

What will the Holy Ghost pull up that is stored in ours minds. Lord, let
the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable
unto Thee, O Lord. Create within me a clean heart and renew a right
spirit within me, O God.

Blessings,

Falla39