The Incorporated Church


         The issue of church incorporation is a critical concern facing the church today.  Below is a list of articles and videos to help you understand the extent of this concern.  After proper study and prayer you will likely conclude that God does not want His church to incorporate.  In fact, when a church incorporates, the government no longer sees the church as a church, but rather as a corporation.  In the eyes of the government a church and a corporation are not the same.  You must be one or the other, you cannot be both.  For starters, review the list of facts regarding incorporation from the 1906 Supreme Court Case, Hale v. Henkel, 201 U.S. 43 at 74.

 

  • A corporation is “a creature of the State.”

  • The State is "sovereign" over the corporation.

  • The corporation is “incorporated for the benefit of the public.”

  • A corporation is a State “franchise.”

  • Incorporation is a State “privilege.”

  • A corporation is “subject to the laws of the State.”

  • “Its powers are limited by law.”

  • It must “obey the laws of its creation.”

  • A corporation has no constitutionally-protected rights.

 

          Does America have a state church?  It sure looks like it.  We have unwittingly given the authority of the Messiah to the "state".  The Bible teaches that "Christ (Messiah) is the head of the church" (Eph 5:23).  Just because the state has not taken away certain privileges from the church does not make this okay.  In the future they just might.  Privileges like free speech might be taken away with hate crime laws.  Privileges like tax exemption might be taken away because of a poor economy.  We can no longer claim First Amendment rights because we are no longer a church in the eyes of the government, but rather a corporation.  The sad thing is, churches are not even required by our government to incorporate, and the courts have ruled this way.  Is this an issue to divide over?  No it is not, but all churches should consider these facts.  If this peaked your interest please check out the following articles and videos with prayer, study and Godly discernment.

 

Incorporation Facts - Peter Kershaw

Incorporation Problems - Peter Kershaw

Free Church Ministry - The Patriot Pastor

The Free Church Solution - Peter Kershaw

Reforming the State Church - Peter Kershaw

Five Reasons Why Christians Should Not Obtain a State Marriage License - Matt Trewhella

 

 

Does Government Control our Churches - Peter Kershaw

(The first 1 1/2 minutes the sound is poor)

 

 

Government Takeover of the Church - Robin Wright

 

 

          If your church is currently incorporated, and you would like to get out of this situation, there are people who can help.  Unfortunately, we are not them.  Answereth a Matter recommends pastor Peter Kershaw from www.hushmoney.org and his ministry.  Answereth a Matter is not associated with Peter Kershaw or his ministry in any way, but his ministry offers help to Christian churches with this dilemma.

 

By Steve Siefken

 

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth

not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV