2022 Top 25 Legal Questions

Last year our Legal Assist team received 2,121 questions from ministries around the country, covering a range of issues from child protection to activity participation agreements. Below are the 25 Most Clicked Legal FAQs for ministries in 2022.

Numbers indicate yearly pageviews as of 12/31/22. Numbers in parentheses indicate page ranking for that year.

  Question 2022 2021 2020

1

Are ministries allowed to remove disruptive people?

7,714 (1)

4,025 (4)

4,267 (1)

2

Do we have to report all injuries, even those that are insignificant?

5,647 (2)

5,802 (2)

2,697 (3)

3

Does our ministry need to obtain a special permit before serving or selling food?

5,618 (3)

4,159 (3)

3,026 (2)

4

What should ministry leaders know about donor-directed donations?

3,833 (4)

2,462 (5)

2,027 (6)

5

As a church board member, what issues should I be aware of?

2,270 (5)

1,023 (10)

561 (17)

6

Does our ministry need permission to use people’s pictures?

2,240 (6)

1,743 (7)

1,512 (8)

7

What should our ministry know about bylaws?

1,240 (7)

564 (21)

739 (13)

8

Does the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) apply to our ministry?

1,206 (8)

1,497 (8)

2,274 (4)

9

What are the potential tax ramifications for leasing ministry parking lots to outside entities?

1,246 (9)

1,074 (9)

962 (10)

10

What should we do when a background check turns up a criminal record?

1,047 (10)

800 (14)

492 (20)

11

Can Ministries Require Coronavirus Vaccines for Attendees?

871 (11)

5,921 (1)

N/A

12

Should our church have armed security guards?

871 (12)

760 (17)

1,149 (9)

13

What does the Boy Scouts of America's bankruptcy filing mean for churches who have hosted or chartered Boy Scout troops and their insurance coverage?

771 (13)

1,903 (6)

1,848 (7)

14

What rules apply when hiring youth to perform work for our ministry?

733 (14)

544 (23)

306 (29)

15

Are clergy members required to sign marriage licenses?

718 (15)

967 (11)

688 (15)

16

How can our ministry identify an independent contractor for tax purposes?

702 (16)

787 (16)

549 (18)

17

What should our ministry be aware of before recording conversations?

688 (17)

447 (25)

338 (26)

18

One of our church attendees uses a service animal and would like to bring it to church. How should we respond?

683 (18)

214 (33)

126 (39)

19

What risk management issues are associated with lending our church facility?

630 (19)

610 (19)

538 (19)

20

How do we protect against liability related to youth/special needs activities?

593 (20)

863 (12)

2,180 (5)

21

What Should Ministry Personnel Know About Mandatory Reporting Requirements?

593 (21)

571 (20)

411 (24)

22

Does our ministry need an employer identification number (EIN)?

485 (22)

688 (18)

886 (11)

23

What is an activity participation agreement?

474 (23)

556 (22)

479 (21)

24

Should we allow a registered sex offender to attend our church?

447 (24)

447 (24)

381 (25)

25

Is our ministry required to display labor law posters?

372 (25)

96 (43)

31 (74)

Legal Assist is a free service for all ministries, whether they’re a customer or not. Our in-house team of attorneys is ready to provide the risk management guidance you’re looking for - just click on the Legal Assist tab above.*

*Important information: Brotherhood Mutual is pleased to provide Legal Assist as a complimentary resource. The services we offer through Legal Assist are intended to provide general legal information to our current and prospective policyholders.The information we provide is intended to be helpful, but it does not constitute legal advice and is not a substitute for the advice from a licensed attorney in your area. Accordingly, no attorney/client relationship is created through this process, and no legal advice will be provided. We strongly encourage you to regularly consult with a local attorney as part of your risk management program.

 

2022 Top 25 Safety Library Topics

In addition to the most clicked legal topics, we’ve also compiled a list of the 25 most visited articles in our Safety Library for ministries in 2022.

Numbers indicate yearly pageviews as of 12/31/22. 

  Article 2022

1

Six Tips for Resolving Conflict in the Church

20,545

2

5 Steps to Starting a New Ministry

20,361

3

Mandated Reporting Not Limited to Child Abuse

9,080

4

Incorporating Your Church: Why and How?

8,932

5

Minimizing the Liability in Your Property: Facilities Use

7,948

6

Sex Offenders – Allowed to Attend Church?

7,396

7

Make Sure Church and School Bus and Van Drivers are Up to Licensing Standards

6,066

8

Are gifts to ministry workers taxed?

5,868

9

Complying with Copyright Laws

5,176

10

Handling Protests at Your Church

4,053

11

Service and Emotional Support Animals at Church

3,602

12

Dealing with Disruptive Individuals

3,355

13

Can a Ministry or Charity Lose its Tax-Exempt Status?

3,165

14

Records Retention for Ministries

2,976

15

Ten Questions Every Church Board Member Should Ask

2,956

16

Lending Church Facilities: Facility Use Agreements

2,921

17

Surveillance Cameras at Church

2,687

18

Surviving a Violent Attack at Church

2,634

19

Legal Guidelines for Photo and Video Use

2,626

20

Keep Your Devices Cyber Safe

2,233

21

5 Ways to Prevent Slip and Falls

2,077

22

Unrelated Business Income and How it Affects Your Ministry

1,974

23

Sweepstakes, Doorprizes, and Raffles: Is Your Church Fundraiser Legal?

1,772

24

Some—Not All—Ministries Are Subject to HIPAA Requirements

1,583

25

Making the Decision to Have Armed Security Team Members

1,555

*The information provided via the articles and resources in our Safety Library is intended to be helpful, but it does not constitute legal advice and is not a substitute for the advice from a licensed attorney in your area. We strongly encourage you to regularly consult with a local attorney as part of your risk management program.

 

2023 Brotherhood Mutual

2023 Brotherhood Mutual