I read some of your articles. I am exploring the option of starting a church.
Do you have a ballpark price of setting up a common law trust for a church?
Dont know if you can answer these questions…
How does unincorporated church pastor protect himself and others from personal and criminal liability?
If 1st amendment church pastor take offering money to support himself, i assume he has to report that as income on his personal tax return, but how does that work if there are no employee status or w2’s, etc.?
And what if he pays an assistant? How does that get handled?
How does a 1st amendment unincorporated church buy property?
Is tbe property automatically non taxable and how do you prove that to the state?
Thank you for your time
Steve
My Reply on October 15, 2022
Dear __________,
You ask good questions which I answer, along with a lot of other questions – starting with the basics of Bible principle – in helping churches organize. From your questions, I discern that, according to the Lord in His Word, you are not ready or qualified to “start a church.” God’s Word does not make provision for “the option of starting a church.” Once you have studied and understand the basics of New Testament Church doctrine, the Bible doctrine of government, and the Bible doctrine concerning God’s desired relationship between church and state, contact me again. I cover those matters – as regards church organization – in the books, essays, and teachings on the website. Then, I will be able to help you.
Churches under Christ Ministry Website: Understanding and Applying God's Principles for Church Headship "Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:1-3). ————————————This Ministry is under the authority of Charity Baptist Tabernacle of Amarillo, Texas. Jerald Finney, a Christian Lawyer and member of Charity Baptist Tabernacle, having received this ministry in the Lord, explains how a church in America can remain under the Lord Jesus Christ and Him only. "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen" (1 Peter 4:10-11; See also, Ephesians 4::1-16 and 1 Corinthians 12:1-25). "Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it" (Colossians 4:17). "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church" (Ephesians 1.22; See also, e.g. Colossians 1:18).
Simply Church: God's Prescribed Relationship Between Church and State 