IS IT NECESSARY TO REGISTERED IF YOU PUT A MINISTRY?

Question

A CERTAIN NURSE IN PROFESSION IS PUTTING A MINISTRY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND HER MINISTRY IS NOT REGISTERED YET SHE IS COLLECTING MONIES TO THE MEMBERS AND SINCE IT IS NOT REGISTERED SHE PUT IT IN HER PERSONAL ACCOUNT.SINCE SHE IS JUST USING THE WORD OF GOD IN HER BEST INTEREST,SHE IS A NURSE IN PROFESSION AND NOT A PASTOR BUT THE QUESTION IS WHY SHE IS COLLECTING MANDATORY 10% AS A TITHES,WHAT CASE SHOULD BE FILED TO HER IN CASE I BRING THIS AS A COMPLAIN

Answer 1

In my opinion everyone is entitled to their own religious belief, and to proselytise within limits.

The nursing profession has well regarded professional bodies - in the UK it is the Royal College of Nursing - that may be the way to go.

http://www.rcn.org.uk/

Fraud is a crime, taking money from people isn't.

I'm not clear, from what you say, if she is using her position as a nurse to coerce people to join her 'ministry'. That is a very important point.

It is certainly not necessary to register a 'ministry'.

There can be major tax advantages to legal charitable or religious status, but that is a very different thing.

Answer 2

As well noted above me, there is no law against people donating money to any cause a person wants to claim they the head of.

The only legal issue I can clearly see is tax evasion. If she is declaring the funds solicited and paying legal taxes, then she is above board. If she is going to try to claim a religious exemption and she is not considered an accredited church, she can go the same way Al Capone went .



I would suggest that if you want to file any complaints in this, the IRS would be the governing body to contact.

Best of luck and I hope this is useful to you

Answer 3

Churches do not have to be registered anywhere in UK and unless you agree to contribute 10% it can not be mandatory. I am surprised that she has not registered the church as a charity because if she has there are tax advantages. There is something a little suspicious  here particularly if she does not also produce annual accounts. Does she have any form of committee to work with her. I am reluctant to point the figure but I am a little concerned and would want to know more about it her profession is not relevant. If she is on the level she will not object to answering polite questions if she is  not she will so be careful how you phrase your questions because at present you are curious not suspicious if you get my meaning      

Answer 4

Registered?  I don't know where you are, but in the u.s. churches are not regulated by the government and if some fool wants to give her money that is their business.  If she has not formed a non-profit corp, then she can be taxes on the income she earns,   If you are somewhere where the government decides whether a church is legitimate or not, I feel sorry for you.