RE: Religious Organization and Website

[Johann S.]

What is the name of your state? California and New York (but this also refers to the Internet in general)

Hello,

My question is about what sort of steps I should take to plan for the legal security of a website and religious denomination/organization that is in the process of formally established (synopsis below). Since it is a religious organization, and my question is somewhat of that nature, I am posting this in the constitutional section. If you feel that this thread is better suited elsewhere, please relocate it. Many thanks in advance.

I lead a fair-sized (a little over 10,000+), world-wide religious community which is part of a main-stream religion. Since the views of our denomination differ slightly from those of the main-stream, we have recently elected to form an official religious organization to signify that we will now be considered somewhat separate from other denominations (such as Lutheranism, Catholicism, et cetera). And no, we're not moving to Guyana .

Question: What steps should our council take to ensure that our religious organization/denomination will be legally recognized, and to prevent anyone from claiming, at a future date, fraudulently to also lead an organization of the same name, or legally out-maneuvering us to claim it? Also, is this something that should be done through a legal service, and not personally? Just security to prevent a legal headache.

Also, we would love to establish a website to share our beliefs. Should a website and the material on it be copyrighted, or something similar? And would we have to copyright each article/page individually, or would the entire website fall under the same copyright?Again, this isn't to prevent people from associating themselves with us or spreading our material, simply to prevent the more malevolent from causing legal mischief.

Thank you, and God bless.

[CalifAtty-12]

Originally Posted by Johann S.

What is the name of your state? California and New York (but this also refers to the Internet in general)

Hello,

My question is about what sort of steps I should take to plan for the legal security of a website and religious denomination/organization that is in the process of formally established (synopsis below). Since it is a religious organization, and my question is somewhat of that nature, I am posting this in the constitutional section. If you feel that this thread is better suited elsewhere, please relocate it. Many thanks in advance.

I lead a fair-sized (a little over 10,000+), world-wide religious community which is part of a main-stream religion. Since the views of our denomination differ slightly from those of the main-stream, we have recently elected to form an official religious organization to signify that we will now be considered somewhat separate from other denominations (such as Lutheranism, Catholicism, et cetera). And no, we're not moving to Guyana .

Question: What steps should our council take to ensure that our religious organization/denomination will be legally recognized, and to prevent anyone from claiming, at a future date, fraudulently to also lead an organization of the same name, or legally out-maneuvering us to claim it? Also, is this something that should be done through a legal service, and not personally? Just security to prevent a legal headache.

Also, we would love to establish a website to share our beliefs. Should a website and the material on it be copyrighted, or something similar? And would we have to copyright each article/page individually, or would the entire website fall under the same copyright?Again, this isn't to prevent people from associating themselves with us or spreading our material, simply to prevent the more malevolent from causing legal mischief.

Thank you, and God bless.

Johann v. Synder

My response:

We don't do "steps" on this site. "Steps" are why God created attorneys. Pass the collection plate around and hire one.

IAAL

[Johann S.]

Originally Posted by CalifAtty-12

My response:

We don't do "steps" on this site. "Steps" are why God created attorneys. Pass the collection plate around and hire one.

IAAL

I'm sorry, a little direction, rather.

I am wondering what it would take for our religion to be protected? I have heard of the "free church" concept, and I am wondering if we need to legally incorporate or register non-profit and become a legal entity to be protected, or if prior works and the fact that we are an organized body of believers would be enough?

I am fully open to both hiring and discussing this with a professional attorney. I'm not expecting any detailed or explicit legal advice. I'd simply like some direction beforehand so we can know what to expect.

[StickyFingers]

Originally Posted by Johann S.

I'm sorry, a little direction, rather.

I am wondering what it would take for our religion to be protected? I have heard of the "free church" concept, and I am wondering if we need to legally incorporate or register non-profit and become a legal entity to be protected, or if prior works and the fact that we are an organized body of believers would be enough?

I am fully open to both hiring and discussing this with a professional attorney. I'm not expecting any detailed or explicit legal advice. I'd simply like some direction beforehand so we can know what to expect.

So.....your religion is not yet recognized? (nationally or otherwise..re:holidays)

Could you give a better explanation of your beliefs?..Seeing as how you do not have a website yet.

What is the name of your religion?

[Johann S.]

Originally Posted by StickyFingers

So.....your religion is not yet recognized? (nationally or otherwise..re:holidays)

Could you give a better explanation of your beliefs?..Seeing as how you do not have a website yet.

What is the name of your religion?

We are an offshoot of Roman Catholicism, roughly self-entitled "The Church of Lord God and Christ our Savior". Will you forgive me not to mention it by exact name, because I am posting here in order to subvert the exact problem that could arise by doing so.

We feel that we are Christian - Catholic, even - but we feel, among other things, that the Church has too much centralized power and a system wherein most positions are filled by favor and not by merit. We are seeking to adopt a purer, less restrictful, and less negatively organized Christianity - that Christ's message was not his death but his life, teachings, and philosophy. We also feel that the Church is endeavoring to separate us from God by making us go through intermediaries, and that the Church is hording what it is given by its parishioners and not giving what it potentially could to its people. These are some of our beliefs.

In that sense, we believe in Christmas and Easter and other Christian holy days (among others). We have not filed for federal recognition in the United States - that is a question that we would like to address to a lawyer when we meet with a group soon. To our knowledge, to practice a faith in the United States one does not need to be recognized in any form by the government, but we would like to do this if possible.

[StickyFingers]

Originally Posted by Johann S.

We are an offshoot of Roman Catholicism, roughly self-entitled "The Church of Lord God and Christ our Savior". Will you forgive me not to mention it by exact name, because I am posting here in order to subvert the exact problem that could arise by doing so.

We feel that we are Christian - Catholic, even - but we feel, among other things, that the Church has too much centralized power and a system wherein most positions are filled by favor and not by merit. We are seeking to adopt a purer, less restrictful, and less negatively organized Christianity - that Christ's message was not his death but his life, teachings, and philosophy. We also feel that the Church is endeavoring to separate us from God by making us go through intermediaries, and that the Church is hording what it is given by its parishioners and not giving what it potentially could to its people. These are some of our beliefs.

In that sense, we believe in Christmas and Easter and other Christian holy days (among others). We have not filed for federal recognition in the United States - that is a question that we would like to address to a lawyer when we meet with a group soon. To our knowledge, to practice a faith in the United States one does not need to be recognized in any form by the government, but we would like to do this if possible.

Well then...until this particular religion becomes an 'established'/recognized religion...You are out of luck...

You will continue to fight.

Hell, Wicca is older than your religion and it is still not recognized.

You have a long road ahead of you.

[Johann S.]

Originally Posted by StickyFingers

Well then...until this particular religion becomes an 'established'/recognized religion...You are out of luck...

You will continue to fight.

Hell, Wicca is older than your religion and it is still not recognized.

You have a long road ahead of you.

I've read part 4 of [url]http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/calawquery?codesection=corp&codebody=[/url] (Californian code for incorporating a religious-orientated not-for-profit) and I understand what it takes to incorporate. I'm merely saying, can we be recognized as an organization without doing this? And, night-mare scenario, can someone unrelated to our organization incorporate the name we use and possibly usurp any work and/or "legal right" to conduct the organization we have? That is the main question. I'm sorry if this thread is too long and confusing. I don't want to hold a monopoly on God or our beliefs.

[StickyFingers]

Originally Posted by Johann S.

I've read part 4 of [url]http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/calawquery?codesection=corp&codebody=[/url] (Californian code for incorporating a religious-orientated not-for-profit) and I understand what it takes to incorporate. I'm merely saying, can we be recognized as an organization without doing this? And, night-mare scenario, can someone unrelated to our organization incorporate the name we use and possibly usurp any work and/or "legal right" to conduct the organization we have? That is the main question. I'm sorry if this thread is too long and confusing. I don't want to hold a monopoly on God or our beliefs.

Hell, I don't know....I will leave the "Legal" answer up to anyone here who wants to respond furthur.

[High&Low]

This is a very specialized area of law. If you already plan to meet with an attorney, then you should save your questions until you see him/her. However, if you wish to try to proceed without an attorney, or you are seeking general ideas at this time, you can e-mail me. The steps are quite involved, and detailed discussion is necessary.

[CalifAtty-14]

Originally Posted by Johann S.

I've read part 4 of [url]http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/calawquery?codesection=corp&codebody=[/url] (Californian code for incorporating a religious-orientated not-for-profit) and I understand what it takes to incorporate. I'm merely saying, can we be recognized as an organization without doing this? And, night-mare scenario, can someone unrelated to our organization incorporate the name we use and possibly usurp any work and/or "legal right" to conduct the organization we have? That is the main question. I'm sorry if this thread is too long and confusing. I don't want to hold a monopoly on God or our beliefs.

My comment:

Can I PLEASE have your blessing?

IAAL

[CalifAtty-14]

Well, I'm waiting . . . .

IAAL

[Johann S.]

Originally Posted by CalifAtty-14

My comment:

Can I PLEASE have your blessing?

IAAL

I would be more than happy to treat for you.

[Johann S.]

Originally Posted by High&Low

This is a very specialized area of law. If you already plan to meet with an attorney, then you should save your questions until you see him/her. However, if you wish to try to proceed without an attorney, or you are seeking general ideas at this time, you can e-mail me. The steps are quite involved, and detailed discussion is necessary.

I understand that eventually incorporating will be necessary, yet at this point I'm just seeking general ideas. Would you mind if I asked you privately a few questions about the process? (Such as [in California] a 503(1)(c) not-for-profit/religious-use corporation?) If so, you can contact me at your leisure at johannvonsynder[at]gmail.com.

[CalifAtty-15]

Originally Posted by Johann S.

I would be more than happy to treat for you.

My response:

Yeah, I knew it. You're obviously some "hack" who bought a frock and vestments at a uniform supply store.

Follow the law, and stop being an imposter.

IAAL