Incorporate Your Ministry

The next step to becoming an EFCA church is to incorporate your plant.  In most districts this is done very early in the process.  Check with your EFCA district office since they may have an incorporation template that you could obtain free of charge.  If your district does not have a template, then you could visit http://www.startchurch.com.  They have guidelines for sale for all 50 states.

Filing the Articles of Incorporation is a straightforward process.  It has been our experience that a church plant does not need to secure the services of a lawyer when they follow the incorporation template or use the guidelines purchased through www.startchurch.com.  In most cases, you will need district approval, three officers, and an address.

One area the federal government is concerned about in incorporation is a dissolution clause.  The concern is if a church has tax exempt status, gathers assets and would dissolve, no individual or non-exempt group should personally profit from those exempted assets.  Every state has laws governing this process. Every incorporation template should include a dissolution clause where assets are directed to the EFCA district. 

Next step: Obtain a FEIN