FEATURED RESOURCE: LAUNCHING A BUSINESS AT CHURCH

Coffee shops, bookstores, thrift shops, daycare centers—many
churches are turning to business enterprises like these to extend and
fulfill their ministry goals. But, as any entrepreneur will say,
starting a business is complex. There are a multitude of legal and
financial details to consider. Not-for-profit ministries face the
added complexity of risking their tax exempt status if revenues aren't
properly accounted for, not to mention all of the employment-related
issues that go along with running a business. To help you navigate
these business concerns so you can maximize the potential ministry
opportunity, we've created a download called "Launching a Business at
Church[6]." Our feature article addresses an additional business
concern—the issue of compliance with state licensing
regulations.

For more help with launching a business as part of your ministry,
this issue includes:

  * YOU BE THE JUDGE: The Unrelated Business Income Tax and
Publishing[7]

  * ASK RICHARD: A teenage boy wants to continue to attend our church
even though he's a child molester.[8]

God bless and protect your ministry.

Marian V. Liautaud
Editor, /Your Church/ Resources
churchlawandtaxupdate@yourchurch.net[9]

P.S. Hurry! Get your /2008 Church & Clergy Tax Guide/[10] before
April 15. Find essential help to guide you through preparing your 2007
church and clergy tax returns. You'll quickly understand how to report
your federal income and Social Security taxes correctly.

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    [11]         NEW BLOG FOR WOMEN LEADERS[12]
Are you a Christian woman who is a capable, called, and gifted
leader? Don't miss GiftedforLeadership.com to converse with other
women about the issues you face.

    Featured Article

[13]Churches Are Not Exempt from State Licenses[14]
/Requiring a license does not violate constitutional rights of a
church-run program./
by Richard R. Hammar

  The church began operating the Bible School in 2000. In 2004, the
church's pastor contacted the fire department to determine whether the
church's facilities were in compliance with local fire codes. A fire
inspector determined that the Bible School was subject to "day-care
occupancy" standards of the safety code, and found a number of fire
code violations during the inspection. The fire department also
informed the Department of Human Services that the church appeared to
be operating a childcare facility without a license.

Finish article[15].

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