Church spires once dominated the skylines of American cities, while rural chapels served as the center of community life in small towns and villages across the country. The church enjoyed the respect of society and the esteem of the culture.

But, the world has changed.

Municipalities across America routinely attempt to zone churches out of prime locations. Sexual identity has become the watchword as secularists seek to replace religious freedom with sexual preference as a cherished American value. Members and non-members often bring litigation against churches for physical injuries sustained during church activities. And, sadly, the number one reason churches currently wind up in court is the sexual abuse of minors.

Emerging Legal Threats to Churches

In analyzing recent trends, we have identified five emerging legal threats that each church should be aware of and ready to address:

1. Sexual Identity vs. Religious Liberty

2. High-Risk Ministry Activities

3. Increasing Secularization of Culture

4. Zoning and Property Issues

5. Sexual Abuse of Minors

In the midst of such a cultural whirlwind, how should your church respond? How do you stay on mission? How can you protect your members and guests from harm?

The Secularization of Culture

Mayberry may have never existed as portrayed in The Andy Griffith Show, but American culture has continued to become more and more secularized, and churches have become more and more marginalized since the airing of the program in the 1950s.

For example, in Church of the Isaiah 58 Project of AZ v. La Paz County, La Paz County placed a tax lien on a rural church after the church refused to pay a $50,000 tax bill that both the state and church agreed was not owed. This is one of dozens of ways municipalities are attempting to find ways to tax churches to help obtain funds for shrinking city coffers.

In another example of the secularization of culture, an Arizona church had to go all the way to the United States Supreme Court to overturn a city ordinance that treated the church’s signs promoting its worship services in a vastly inferior manner when compared to political campaign signs .

In October 2016, the Freedom From Religion Foundation scored a victory for secularists when two Texas football teams agreed to stop allowing coaches to pray for the teams before games or practices . That same day, the same organization received an assurance from a school district in Indiana that it would no longer allow a school bus driver to play Christian music on the bus because “young and impressionable students cannot be forced to listen to such programs” . There is no word yet as to whether the music of Lady Gaga, Robin Thicke, Miley Cyrus, or others would be allowed.

The greatest weapon to turn the tide against the wave of secularism is for churches to continue to preach and demonstrate the Gospel of Jesus. After all, it is the power of the Gospel that changes hearts and transforms lives. At the same time, churches and their members can and should engage the culture through political activism, involvement in local school and community issues, and working to support religious freedom and rights of all persons—not just Christians.

Reynolds Law Group Can Help

For information about how Reynolds Law Group, PLLC can help protect your church against this emerging threat, contact our team by clicking the button below.