Josh concludes his conversation with Derek Nelson, coauthor of Resilient Reformer: The Life and Thought of Martin Luther, this time exploring the legacy of Luther's thought on Western society's concepts of religion and government.

Josh continues his conversation with Derek Nelson, coauthor of Resilient Reformer: The Life and Thought of Martin Luther, this time focusing on Luther’s attitudes about government’s role in governing religion.

Derek Nelson, coauthor of Resilient Reformer: The Life and Thought of Martin Luther, shares some of the attitudes and work of Martin Luther toward the relationship of Church and government.

Before Martin Luther became a monk, he was a rather successful student whose father encouraged his path into the study of law. Informed in part by his brief stint in law school and other encounters with lawyers in his day, he developed a distaste and distrust for the profession as a whole. Derek Nelson, coauthor of Resilient Reformer: The Life and Thought of Martin Luther, helps explain what a lawyer did in sixteenth-century Germany, what studying the law would have been like, and what Luther thought about the law. Subscribe to the Law Meets Gospel Podcast iTunes Google Play RSS Support the Law Meets Gospel Podcast Patreon.com Sign up to contribute an amount you choose for each episode the Law Meets Gospel Podcast publishes.

When organizations lack accountability mechanisms, they can become stagnant. When someone suggests implementing some accountability or asks specific questions about current practices, the person responsible for that aspect of the faith community's life often takes it as a personal attack. But when a community values accountability as a necessary part of good stewardship, moments of accountability can serve to improve the organization's mission. Developing a culture of accountability takes time, but the process can be served by bringing in an outsider without personal connections to share what best practices look like. The three areas to focus on first in developing this culture are finances, child protection, and employee evaluation. Subscribe to the Law Meets Gospel Podcast iTunes Google Play RSS Support the Law Meets Gospel Podcast Patreon.com Sign up to contribute an amount you choose for each episode the Law Meets Gospel Podcast publishes.

All states authorize clergy to perform marriage ceremonies. But each state has its own definitions and procedures. For example, some states have narrow definitions of who qualifies as clergy, sometimes even requiring registration. And the consequences of not following these procedures can fall on both the marrying couple and the minister. Related In re Peacock, 788 S.E.2d 191 (2016) How to Get Arrested for Marrying Same-Sex Couples (July 11, 2013) Congratulations, Amy and Hunter! #danceswithwoolfs   Subscribe to the Law Meets Gospel Podcast iTunes Google Play RSS Support the Law Meets Gospel Podcast Patreon.com Sign up to contribute an amount you choose for each episode the Law Meets Gospel Podcast publishes.

October 31, 2017, marks the five hundredth anniversary of Martin Luther's ninety-five theses, which sparked the Reformation. The ripples of the Reformation still can be seen in the Church and society. Law Meets Gospel marks the occasion with Josh explaining the inspiration for several aspects of the podcast. Law Meets Gospel is inspired by Luther's teaching about Law and Gospel within Christian scriptures. Josh's sign-off, "As you work to meet the worlds need, be wise, be bold, and be joyful." is inspired by two quotes. First, Frederick Buechner's writing, "The place God calls you is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." Second, Luther's advice in a letter to Philip Melanchthon, "Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly." Subscribe to the Law Meets Gospel Podcast iTunes Google Play RSS Support the Law Meets Gospel Podcast Patreon.com Sign up to contribute an amount you choose for each episode the Law Meets Gospel Podcast publishes.

What happens when someone gives a gift to a religious organization that no longer exists? Leaders should consider several things before dissolving an organization to make the answer more certain. First, ensure the organization uses clear language that is also consistent with applicable statutes. Second, determine whether any denominational entity has already been designated as a corporate successor. Third, if there is no denominational entity, consider designating a corporate successor. Fourth, communicate with all community members and supporters and invite those who include the organization in their estate planning to inform the leaders. Finally, when communicating with planned donors, make sure to communicate whether there is a designated corporate successor, so they can include a contingency plan in their estate documents if they wish. Subscribe to the Law Meets Gospel Podcast iTunes Google Play RSS Support the Law Meets Gospel Podcast Patreon.com Sign up to contribute an amount you choose for each episode the Law Meets Gospel Podcast publishes.

The federal district court for the Western District of Wisconsin recently held that the Tax Code's housing allowance violates the First Amendment's Establishment Clause. The decision in Gaylor v. Mnuchin, (W.D. Wis., Oct. 6, 2017), deals with 26 U.S.C. § 107(2). It does not affect the exemption from taxed income based on the value of a church-owned home, traditionally referred to as a parsonage, which is found in 26 U.S.C. § 107(1). Josh explains how the housing-allowance exemption works, why the court concluded it is unconstitutional, and what ministers and religious organizations should look for as the case progresses. For more, see this earlier post collecting coverage of the decision. Subscribe to the Law Meets Gospel Podcast iTunes Google Play RSS Support the Law Meets Gospel Podcast Patreon.com Sign up to contribute an amount you choose for each episode the Law Meets Gospel Podcast publishes.

If history is any indication, every worshiping community's life ends sometime. If that happens under the U.S. Tax Code, there are limits on how assets must be distributed. Musical instruments, books, and furnishings can't just be given to the donors who funded them. Fair prices must be received. And any assets left at the end of the legal entity's existence must be transferred to another charitable entity, like another house of worship, a denominational entity, relief agencies, or social service providers.