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The Church Attorney Consulting Services, LLC

Is Your Church Nose-Blind to Its Bylaws?

Published 16 days ago • 1 min read

Hello Reader ,

So, I’m at that stage of motherhood where I’m saying things like, “You don’t smell your armpits?!”

Yeah. Teen and pre-teen boys. This is fun. 🙂

Actually, it is fun. But I’m also amazed at how they can be completely nose-blind to what seems very obvious to everyone else.

Wildly, this phenomenon can also be true in churches.

Sometimes, we can become so familiar with how things operate that we stop noticing the areas of greatest need.

The outdated process. The unclear authority structure. The document everyone assumes is fine because “we’ve always done it this way.”

Church bylaws are one of those documents leaders may not think about until there is confusion, conflict, a major decision, or a leadership transition.

But updating your bylaws doesn't have to start with rewriting everything. It can begin with a few practical questions.

Here are five signs your church's bylaws may need attention:

  1. They no longer match how your church actually operates.
  2. Roles and authority are unclear.
  3. Meeting and voting procedures are difficult to follow.
  4. Policies and bylaws conflict.
  5. Leaders rely on “how we’ve always done it.”

This week on YouTube, I’m walking through each of these and what churches should review in their bylaws before the next board meeting.

If your church is trying to lead with wisdom, clarity, and good stewardship, watch the video and subscribe to the channel while you’re there. We’re getting close to 1,000 subscribers, and every new subscriber helps us continue creating practical, accessible legal education for church leaders who want to protect the ministry they’ve been called to serve.

Blessings!

This email is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, accounting, or tax advice, nor does it create an attorney-client relationship. The information provided here was based on certain federal and/or state statutes and does not encompass all applicable requirements or other regulations that may exist, such as local ordinances or case law.

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The Church Attorney Consulting Services, LLC

The Church Attorney®

As The Church Attorney®, denominations and churches select my proprietary Legal Audit System to position themselves to operate in integrity, avoid IRS audits, and position themselves for growth. Every church leader should take advantage of my free Church Law podcast and subscribe to my free newsletter.

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