Legal Question in Legal Ethics in Missouri

If a paster leave a church orginazation, do they have the right to take all the money in the churches account if the whole congregation moves with that pastor?


Asked on 4/30/14, 7:11 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Anthony Smith LawSmith

Many churches are incorporated. If the church the pastor was at is incorporated, then Nintendo corporation laws control the transfer of funds. If the pastor is an officer of the corporation, he might be able to transfer funds. If he was an employee of the church corporation, moving the funds would be theft, and possibly subject themself to criminal prosecution.

If the church operates as a partnership, then any partner might be able to transfer funds. But, if the church was using tax exemption protection with the IRS, transferring the money might be a taxable transaction.

Good luck

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Answered on 5/05/14, 9:15 am


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