June 12, 2008 | Read Time: 1 minute
NEW BOOKS
Nonprofit Law for Religious Organizations: Essential Questions & Answers
by Bruce R. Hopkins and David O. Middlebrook
Religious charities are facing increasing scrutiny by government officials, so it is vital that such groups understand the laws that apply to them, write Bruce R. Hopkins and David O. Middlebrook, both lawyers.
“The beginning of the 21st century appears to hold in store more laws applicable to religious nonprofit organizations, as well as a new willingness of the federal, state, and local governments to intervene in day-to-day operations of religious nonprofit organizations,” they warn.
The book focuses on four topics and is written in a question-and-answer format. A section on creating a charity discusses tax-exempt status, conflicts of interest, governance and administration, and other basic information. A second portion of the book gives an overview of employees, including ministers — by which the authors mean a religious leader of any faith — and volunteers.
The third, and longest, part of the book offers information about the operation of a religious nonprofit group: charitable-giving rules, insurance-coverage considerations, real estate, competition, political activities, unrelated business activities, and other subjects.
The book’s last section deals with the Constitution, religious freedom, and interaction with the government.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 111 River Street, Fourth Floor, Hoboken, N.J. 07030; (201) 748-6000; fax (201) 748-6088; http://www.wiley.com; 350 pages; $45; ISBN 978-0-470-11440-7.
