Richard R. Hammar, J.D., LL.M., CPA. Pastor, Church, and Law. Four Volumes
Tax, Legal, and Risk-Management Issues
About the Author
Richard Hammar is an attorney, certified public accountant, and best-selling author specializing in legal and tax issues for churches and clergy. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he is the author of more than 100 books, including Pastor, Church & Law and the annual resources Church & Clergy Tax Guide and The Compensation Handbook for Church Staff. He also writes the bi-monthly newsletter Church Law & Tax Report, has contributed articles to numerous journals and publications, is a frequent speaker at legal and tax conferences, and has taught church law at a number of seminaries. Below are publisher’s descriptions for each of the volumes.
Understand the laws affecting pastors and why they are important for church boards and ministers to know. Richard Hammar uses court cases to help define and explain the legal distinction of ministerial status and its implications for pastors and church boards. This volume addresses clergy employment contracts, compensation, termination, legal privileges and conditions of ministers, and the legal authority of ministers on behalf of the church. Also, the more common theories of clergy legal liability are reviewed.
Dig deeper with Richard Hammar in this volume as he establishes the legal definition of the church, and the relationship between the law and the Church. Topics covered include: inspection of records, federal reporting requirements, selection and liability of directors and officers, incorporation, church organization, zoning laws, and more.
Churches don’t always think of themselves as employers. Yet this is one of the key roles a church does play. So as an employer, is the church subject to the same legal obligations that apply to secular employers? Some laws do not affect the church because of the separation of church and state. However, in most cases the church is held to the same laws as secular employers. So what is the church’s legal responsibility to employees? Protect your church from employment litigation by keeping this resource on hand to help you address these key employment law topics: Selection of Employees, Discrimination Law, Immigration Laws, Workers Compensation, Federal Employment & Civil Rights Laws, Fair Labor Standards, Termination Requirements.
Learn which local, state, and federal laws and regulations apply to religious organizations and which ones do not. This volume addresses the church’s legal liability on: negligent employee selection, retention, supervision, counseling, breach of fiduciary duty, ratification, and defamation. Finally, Richard Hammar discusses the religion clause of the first amendment – its interpretation, inclusions, and exclusions.
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