Pastor, Church & Law


Book Description




Ministerial Ethics


Book Description

Ministerial Ethics provides both new and experienced pastors with tools for sharpening their personal and professional decision-making skills. The authors seek to explain the unique moral role of the minister and the ethical responsibilities of the vocation and to provide "a clear statement of the ethical obligations contemporary clergy should assume in their personal and professional lives." Trull and Carter deal with such areas as family life, confidentiality, truth-telling, political involvement, working with committees, and relating to other church staff members. First published in 1993, this edition has been thoroughly updated throughout and contains expanded sections on theological foundations, the role of character, confidentiality, and the timely topic of clergy sexual abuse. Appendices describing various denominational ministerial codes of ethics are included.




Clergy Malpractice in America


Book Description

Examines the nation's first widely publicized case involving the concept of clergy malpractice and the questions it raised regarding separation of church and state, free exercise of religion, and state regulation of non-professional counseling.




Church Finance


Book Description

Overseeing the financial health of a church is no simple task. Increased regulations, IRS audits, and changing technology are a few of the challenges facing both new and experienced treasurers, bookkeepers, business administrators and executive pastors. Church Finance, the new, ground-breaking comprehensive guide created by respected experts and CPAs, Michael E. Batts and Richard R. Hammar, gives you the confidence you need to manage every aspect of your job. From building rock-solid internal controls, to understanding the intricacies of payroll taxes and housing allowances, Church Finance is the "go-to" reference every church needs. Using straight-forward language, the authors of Church Finance delve deeply into the critical issues all churches must address-budgeting, financial reporting, tax compliance, insurance coverage and more.




Legal Issues and Religious Counseling


Book Description

This much-needed book offers a current description of how religious counselors and clergy, as well as their local and national religious organizations, become legally vulnerable. The authors examine the three most litigated areas in clergy counseling: breaches of confidentiality; sexual misconduct; and the content and quality of counseling services. Glossary.




The Clergy Sex Abuse Crisis and the Legal Responses


Book Description

Legal disputes over worldwide, including the U.S., sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests, and over efforts by Roman Catholic bishops to conceal clerical misconduct, have produced many headlines and public discussion. However, the precise legal issues involved remain a mystery to most observers. In this study, James O'Reilly and Margaret Chalmers examine the role of canon law in these cases and the interplay between the global church-based law and the laws of individual jurisdictions where criminal actions and lawsuits are brought.




Clergy Malpractice


Book Description