This course is a survey of the law governing churches, their affiliates, and believers, and is taught from a “practice-oriented” perspective. Students will incorporate a hypothetical religious or religiously affiliated charitable organization, and provide advice to its board of directors concerning the options to be considered given the type of organization to be formed. Subjects to be covered will include federal and state constitutional and statutory protections for religious liberty, the structure and organization of churches and religiously affiliated organizations, the law of nonprofit and charitable corporations, taxation of churches and charities, labor and employment law, and the application of freedom of speech and association principles to organizations and groups. Prerequisite: Constitutional Law. Exposure to Corporations or Tax will be useful, but is not required.

Upper-level course for:

V. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
XXV. Not-for-Profit Organizations
XXVII. Religion and the Law