Ministry and the American Legal System: A Guide for Clergy, Lay Workers, and Congregations by Richard B. Couser

Written for persons who are not lawyers, accountants, or quasi-legal specialists, this book offers congregations and religious professionals practical insight, while avoiding mere listings of rules and lengthy discussions of cases. Part One provides an overview of the history, structure, and functioning of American law and its legal system, as these pertain to congregations, religious organizations, and professionals. Part Two details various areas of law, such as torts, contracts, real estate transactions, employment, copyrights, and taxations, that have direct bearing on congregational life and ministerial practice. Part Three focuses on "risk management": ways that congregations and religious organizations and professionals can improve their functioning and minimize their exposure to legal difficulties.