Due to todays culture concerning multiple types of wedding venues, does a church’s policy of charging for building use constitute a business agreement? If it does, is the church then subject to the same guidelines of access that any business would be subject too? How is this possible?
We all remember the baker who was sued for refusing to make a wedding cake for a homosexual couple! His story is not over even though he won his case. The line between non profit and for profit is very thin. Like the baker we provide a service to the public. We do not charge for this service nor do we require an offering. When a Church requires money for a service it crosses the line from non-profit to profit like any other business. Charging for the use of the building, even for a cleaning fee, places the Church in the venue of a for profit business.
More and more Churches are going to providing these services to their members only. New Church building Policies are being written to accommodate these changes. Our Church has gone to the Members Only policy for all weddings. We do not charge them because they support the Church with their tithes and offerings. Even cleaning fee are on a donation basis only, and that is arranged directly with our janitorial staff.
Your Church also needs to place in their Building use policy that you recognize only the Biblical form of Marriage being between a Man and a Woman. This might also be incorporated in the Church’s by-laws. I also require a six week pre-marital counseling course before the wedding. I use Prepare and Enrich as my preferred course.
Regardless of what you policy concerning Weddings and building use are at this time I encourage you to research this matter for the protection of your Church and it’s ministry.
God Bless your Ministry, Bro. Howard
Site Designed & Hosted by Ark Web Design
