I need advise from a church attorney. My father passed 8/2020 and he was founder of my church for 55 years. I am taking

Expert's Assistant chat

Customer: I need advise from a church attorney. My father passed 8/2020 and he was founder of my church for 55 years. I am taking care of my mom who is 84 now. A few members chose a new pastor and my family didn't get an opportunity to vote. I want my place back as trustee in the church. Is that possible?
JA: What state are you in? It matters because laws vary by location.
Customer: Michigan
JA: What steps have you taken so far?
Customer: Not attending the church. They have set in place other people with this new pastor. I spoke to the new pastor and he is not willing to listen. I have been with my father for years as the trustee and minister of music. The new pastor is a member but wasn't actively serving. He chose to sing every sunday at another church for years.
JA: Is there anything else the Lawyer should know before I connect you? Rest assured that they'll be able to help you.
Customer: My mom wants to know how can she have this pastor removed since none of the family was able to vote.

Answered by Jan in 1 hour 1 year ago

Jan

10+ years of experience

7820 Satisfied customers

Expert in: Family Law, Legal, Estate Law, Real Estate Law, Criminal Law, Employment Law, Business Law, Consumer Protection Law, Bankruptcy Law, Traffic Law, Personal Injury Law.

Back

Jan

7820 Satisfied customers

10+ years of experience

Jan

10+ years of experience

7820 Satisfied customers

Lawyer's, Assistant

116 Lawyers are online right now.

Customer

Is there anyway I can have the church closed and the building turned over to me until a suitable pastor is found?

Customer

My family was with my father all the time. The people that have taken over didn't care and wasn't there. They couldn't wait for the pastor to pass to have control and sit the family down. I have a son that is a minister and the church should have been passed down to him. My mom was so devastated that she couldn

Customer

couldn't do anything but cry and be depressed. Her and my father were married 61 years.

Customer

I want control of the church and those that want to stay can and those that don't like it can leave. Is there anything I can do?

Jan, Expert

Hello,

My name is ***** ***** I am an attorney with Just Answer. I am also a Michigan attorney. I would be happy to try to help you.

What denomination is your church?

Jan, Expert

Hello,

Are you there?

Customer

Baptist

Jan, Expert

It depends on your church by-laws as a non-profit organization. No one person owns a church.

...https://www.learnreligions.com › Baptist-church-denom...Jun 25, 2019 —

Baptist Church Governing Body. Baptist denominations follow a congregational church governance in which each individual congregation is governed.

Baptist denominations follow a congregational church governance in which each individual congregation is governed autonomously, free from the direct control of any other body.

If you want a seat as a Trustee of the church, you will have to find out how to do that according you your church's by-law or constitution, such a running for a trustee position or being appointed by either the pastor or church council or whatever committee runs the church. The current pastor and church council or session enforces the rules.

Do you have any follow up questions?

Jan, Expert

Are you still there?

Jan, Expert

If you have no further questions, thank you for contacting Just Answer. I hope my legal information has been helpful and meets with your satisfaction. Good luck in becoming a trustee again.

My best wishes,

Jan

Ask a lawyer and get your legal questions answered.

See all Legal Questions

Related Legal Questions

Both my parents passed away last year. I and my husband would like to purchase the house, which we are currently living

2.22.2022

Barrister

Attorney

114,884 Satisfied Customers

What does this mean?

2.22.2022

Infolawyer

Attorney

154,984 Satisfied Customers

If a wife transfers property to her husband who later dies and a trust inherits the property, is that transfer valid? Or

2.22.2022

StephenH129

Legal Specialist

24,110 Satisfied Customers

Help reviewing language in a revocable living trust

2.22.2022

EvanG329

Legal Specialist

10,942 Satisfied Customers

There is an irrevocable trust when one trustee lives in NY and the other trustee lives in Florida. The deed to the house

2.22.2022

Infolawyer

Attorney

154,984 Satisfied Customers

Both my parents passed away last year. I and my husband would like to purchase the house, which we are currently living

2.22.2022

Barrister

Attorney

114,884 Satisfied Customers

What does this mean?

2.22.2022

Infolawyer

Attorney

154,984 Satisfied Customers

How it works

Ask for help, 24/7

Members enjoy round-the-clock access to 12,000+ verified Experts, including doctors, lawyers, tech support, mechanics, vets, home repair pros, more.

Expert will respond in minutes

After you reach out, we match you with an Expert who specializes in your situation. Talk, text, chat, whichever you prefer.

Save time & money

No scheduling hassles, missing time from work, or expensive consults.

A JustAnswer membership can save you significant time and money each month.

593 Verified lawyers, 10+ years of experience

DISCLAIMER: Answers from Experts on Askalawyeroncall.com are not substitutes for the advice of an attorney. Askalawyeroncall.com is a public forum and questions and responses are not private or confidential or protected by the attorney-client privilege. The Expert above is not your attorney, and the response above is not legal advice. You should not read this response as proposing specific action or addressing your specific circumstances, but only to give you a sense of general principles of law that might affect the situation you describe. Application of these general principles to particular circumstances should be done by a lawyer who has spoken with you in confidence, learned all relevant information, and explored various options. Before acting on any information received from an Expert, you should hire a lawyer licensed to practice law in the jurisdiction to which your question pertains. The responses above are from independent, freelance Experts, who are not employed by Askalawyeroncall.com . The site and services are provided “as is”. To view the verified credentials of an Expert, click on the “Verified” symbol in the Expert’s profile. This site is not for emergency questions which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals. Please carefully read the Terms of Service.