General Counsel Blog Archives - United Church of Christ https://www.ucc.org/category/general-counsel-blog/ Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:05:24 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.4 https://www.ucc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/cropped-favicon-32x32.png General Counsel Blog Archives - United Church of Christ https://www.ucc.org/category/general-counsel-blog/ 32 32 Immigration Enforcement Action: What Churches Need to Know https://www.ucc.org/immigration-enforcement-action-what-churches-need-to-know/ Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:04:04 +0000 https://www.ucc.org/?p=242399 This article, originally published January 30, 2025, was updated on February 20, 2025 with additional resources in the Additional Resources section. The Trump Administration rescinded a policy that required Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to seek additional authority prior…

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]]> The Group Exemption, Proving Your Church’s Tax-Exempt Status, and Your Church’s EIN:  What Local Churches Need to Know https://www.ucc.org/the-group-exemption-proving-your-churchs-tax-exempt-status-and-your-churchs-ein-what-local-churches-need-to-know/ Fri, 07 Jun 2024 14:57:17 +0000 https://www.ucc.org/?p=198125 This post was updated on June 7, 2024 to account for the IRS’s recent review of its guidance in this matter and to clarify the difference between the IRS Business Master File for Exempt Organizations and the IRS’s Tax Exempt…

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]]> Generative Artificial Intelligence for Local Churches:  Risk Management and Policy Development https://www.ucc.org/generative-artificial-intelligence-for-local-churches-risk-management-and-policy-development/ Tue, 28 May 2024 16:48:31 +0000 https://www.ucc.org/?p=227269 Applications of generative artificial intelligence technologies have exploded in the past few years since ChatGPT was introduced by OpenAI, Inc. in 2022. ChatGPT and other large language models are routinely used to conduct research, draft documents and communications, and analyze…

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]]> Advanced Topics in Copyright for Local Churches:  Linking and Embedding https://www.ucc.org/advanced-topics-in-copyright-for-local-churches-linking-and-embedding/ Tue, 30 Apr 2024 19:56:32 +0000 https://www.ucc.org/?p=225300 If you’ve read this blog before, you know that much of the content available on the internet is protected under the U.S. Copyright Act.  That means a church cannot upload or copy and paste written works, artwork, photographs, or music…

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]]> Responding to Media Inquiries:  Best Practices for Local Churches https://www.ucc.org/responding-to-media-inquiries-best-practices-for-local-churches/ Tue, 29 Aug 2023 18:09:13 +0000 https://www.ucc.org/?p=214132 Does the person who answers the phone at your Local Church know what to do if the caller is a reporter from the local news network?  What if your office administrator or pastor receives an email from a reporter asking for…

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]]> Local Church Security: Resources and Best Practices https://www.ucc.org/local-church-security-resources-and-best-practices/ Tue, 01 Aug 2023 13:26:49 +0000 https://www.ucc.org/?p=213048 A broad welcome is a cornerstone of ministry for many United Church of Christ Local Churches.  They fully embody the UCC’s adage that  “no matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.”  How…

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]]> Supreme Court Update: Amicus Briefs Filed by the General Synod https://www.ucc.org/supreme-court-update-amicus-briefs-filed-by-the-general-synod/ Fri, 22 Jul 2022 18:43:11 +0000 https://www.ucc.org/?p=190212 The General Synod of the United Church of Christ engages in advocacy through the filing of amicus, or friend of the court, briefs in certain lawsuits. An amicus brief is filed by a person or organization that is not a party…

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]]> Allowing Third Parties to Use Church Property: What Churches Need to Know https://www.ucc.org/allowing-third-parties-to-use-church-property-what-churches-need-to-know/ Fri, 01 Jul 2022 15:33:26 +0000 https://www.ucc.org/?p=188821 Churches that offer the use of their space to non-church groups (sometimes referred to in this article as “third parties”) for meetings or events have lots to consider, from the ecclesiastical—  must outside groups share our beliefs to use our…

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]]> Election Year Reminder: Churches Can Be Political But Not Partisan https://www.ucc.org/election-year-reminder-churches-can-be-political-but-not-partisan/ Tue, 31 May 2022 19:18:47 +0000 https://www.ucc.org/?p=186151 With the election year in full swing, Local Churches of the United Church of Christ can check out these great Our Faith Our Vote resources from the United Church of Christ Office of Public Policy and Advocacy in Washington, D.C.…

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]]> Church Liability and Best Practices for Posting Photos and Videos https://www.ucc.org/church-liability-and-best-practices-for-posting-photos-and-videos/ Wed, 20 Apr 2022 19:21:36 +0000 https://www.ucc.org/?p=183630 Many United Church of Christ Local Churches are regularly holding online worship on Facebook or YouTube, have active social media pages that include photographs and videos of worship, and maintain sophisticated websites with photographs of individuals participating in church ministries. …

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]]> Local Church Ministers: Employees or Independent Contractors? https://www.ucc.org/local-church-ministers-employees-or-independent-contractors/ Tue, 05 Apr 2022 15:10:53 +0000 https://www.ucc.org/?p=182538 Is your Local Church minister a W-2 employee, or an independent contractor that receives a Form 1099-NEC (nonemployment compensation) at the end of the year?  Several recent inquiries to the Office of General Counsel indicate worker classification causes some confusion…

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]]> Volunteers and Copyright: Best Practices https://www.ucc.org/volunteers-and-copyright-best-practices/ Mon, 29 Nov 2021 20:50:04 +0000 https://www.ucc.org/?p=175122 Our church members give generously of their time and talent, often providing volunteer hours to help the church accomplish tasks necessary to its ministry.  Does your church use photographs taken by volunteers on its website or social media?  Do volunteer Sunday School…

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]]> Can Churches Require COVID-19 Vaccinations? https://www.ucc.org/can-churches-require-covid-19-vaccinations/ Fri, 03 Sep 2021 19:58:25 +0000 https://www.ucc.org/?p=170038 Like many United Church of Christ Local Churches, First Congregational Church has been holding online worship services since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March of 2020.  Recently it has held a few outdoor worship services, but with autumn and cooler…

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]]> Leasing Church Property to a Tenant: What Churches Need to Know. https://www.ucc.org/leasing-church-property-to-a-tenant-what-churches-need-to-know/ Tue, 15 Jun 2021 02:52:10 +0000 https://www.ucc.org/?p=163633 First Congregational Church United Church of Christ has a large church building with a separate two-floor education wing that has eight separate classrooms and its own restrooms.  The church previously held children’s Sunday School in the education wing, but in…

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]]> Copyright Compliance Basics for Churches https://www.ucc.org/copyright-compliance-basics-for-churches/ Thu, 10 Jun 2021 13:34:58 +0000 https://www.ucc.org/?p=163249 Pilgrim Church, UCC is a small church.  Before the pandemic, Pilgrim had a weekly in-person worship service.  At the beginning of every worship service, Pilgrim distributed a service bulletin that occasionally included an insert with lyrics and music to a…

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