First Church of Cannabis receives I.R.S. approval

According to the Indianapolis Star, the First Church of Cannabis has received approval as a 501(c)(3) organization. This raises a few thoughts.

Considerations when offered a planned gift

You’ve just received word that one of your long-time donors has decided to leave a large gift, but it’s in the form of a planned gift. It might be as simple as naming your organization in the donor’s will. Or it might be a more complex mechanism like a trust or an annuity. One of the questions you need to keep in mind is what happens if your group ceases to exist or changes its name. While the default legal rule is that any reference to your organization will be treated as referring to the group’s successor, there are situations in which that is not true. And thinking about the possibility at the time of the gift can save a lot of trouble later.

Roundup for November 15, 2014: Parsonage exemption, Buddhist and Presbyterian splits, rappers, free resources

Here are the posts from this week to the Law Meets Gospel feeds on Twitter, Facebook, and blog.

Posts to the blog

• Seventh Circuit holds challengers to parsonage exemption lack standing

 Stories from around the Internet posted to the feeds

• TX Breakaway Presbyterian congregation settles for $7.8M with PCUSA before hearing Story here.
• D.Utah: FLDS member with belief in secrecy excused from testifying about internal church affairs, cites #HobbyLobby. Story here. 
• Retweet: @LawMeetsGospel @PSRBlaw MT @TEMPLE_HERITAGE: YES! We are now a 501(c)(3). All donations are tax-deductible. Thank you Josh at Plews Shadley Original tweet here.
• 2nd Cir.: Synagogue may pursue RLUIPA-based challenge to denial of construction at historic site. Story here. 
• Megachurch leader threatens to sue rappers over remix. Story here.
• Cert. Filed In Ban On Church Use of New York City Schools. Story here.
•  Company seeks $250M from Los Angeles archdiocese. Story here.
•  Church boots AA group over gay weddings - KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana News Weather & Sports. Story here.
• Notre Dame Asks For Supreme Court GVR In Contraceptive Coverage Challenge. Story here.
• Free Webinar—Nonprofit Engagement Best Practices by The NonProfit Times—Covers social media, fundraising, engagement. More information here.
• North Carolina Supreme Court Allows Direct Appeal of School Voucher Program. Story here.
• Minnesota Archdiocese Enters Historic Settlement In Clergy Abuse Case. Story here.
• NOT RELIGION: @PSRBlaw's Josh Tatum @LawMeetsGospel elected to IN State Bar Association’s Appellate Practice Section’s Council. Story here.
• Pastors Seek To Quash Subpoenas For Sermons, Communications. Story here.
• Pastor accused of affairs temporarily banned, turns over keys to building and church-provided Mercedes. Story here.
• FREE DOWNLOAD: #Nonprofit Board Stories & #LeadershipDevelopment Strategies. Download here.
• Same-sex marriage has been legal in Idaho for all of 2 days, and two ministers already face jail, fines. Story here.
• Two Ministers Ordered To Perform Same-Sex Wedding Face Jail, Fines. Story here.
• NY's high court considers neo-Pagan tax exemption case from @TimesUnion. Story here.
• All A-Board!: How Personalities Affect Your Board - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly. Story here.
• Houston Mayor Drops Pastor Subpoenas via @CTMagazine. Story here.
• W. D. Ky..: Catholic Hospital's Disability Plan Does Not Qualify as a Church Plan Exempt from ERISA. Story here.
•  Rogue pastors endorse candidates, but IRS looks away via @POLITICO. Story here.
• Constitution Check: Should the Supreme Court get involved in church property disputes? Story here.
• Jehovah's Witnesses to pay $13.5M for alleged child abuse via @fox5sandiego. Story here.
• 3 Unique YouTube Perks for Non-profit Organizations [Creator's Tip #167] - ReelSEO. Story here.
• Very interesting report on nonprofit C.E.O. pay. Religious leaders seem to be outliers. Story here.
• Court Rejects Free Exercise and Establishment Clause Challenges To California's Reparative Therapy Ban. Story here.
• Retweeted Plews Shadley (@PSRBlaw): PSRB attorney Josh Tatum @LawMeetsGospel helps @TEMPLE_HERITAGE obtain nonprofit status. #BethElTemple Original tweet here. Story here.
• Interesting article with helpful tips on transition in the top spots of nonprofits: Who'll Fill Their Shoes? Story here.
• @IUPhilanthropy Study: Younger, Non-Religious Women Give More #philanthropy. Story here.
• N.Y. App. Div.: Buddhist congregants can't sue over shuttered Manhatten temple, dissent would neutrally apply bylaws. Story here. Opinion here.
• D.C. Cir.: Compromise accommodation for religious nonprofits on contraceptive mandate passes RFRA test. Story here. Opinion here.
   

Have a question about legal issues affecting religious organizations? Let me know at questions@lawmeetsgospel.com, www.facebook.com/LawMeetsGospel, or @LawMeetsGospel.