How to Begin a Church

Do you care deeply about your faith? These are some measures you may take to create your own church.

What you’ll discover:

Creating Church Rules and a Belief Statement
The Church’s Name and Structure
Obtaining an EIN from the IRS Establishing a Church Business Account

Are you deeply committed to your religion but unclear how to establish a church? Before you can apply for non-profit status, you must first form a fellowship of individuals who share your ideas. According to the IRS, you must have three founding members who are not connected by blood or marriage. Preferably, you already have a sizable following and are eager to make your church official.

After you’ve gained a following, you may officially incorporate your church. If you choose not to go through the incorporation procedure on your own, we can teach you how to form a church and handle the incorporation paperwork for you. You will have more time to concentrate on more essential things if you leave the hard work to us.

Creating Church Rules and a Belief Statement

Establishing a church is similar to launching a business. To establish precisely what your church’s purpose is, the principles you want to follow, and how your “company” will be constituted, a set of Corporate Bylaws and a doctrinal statement must be created.

The bylaws of the church will explain how the church will be governed. While creating your bylaws, consider the following points:

What is your motivation for establishing a church?
Will the church conduct burials and weddings?
Will the church be involved in any community outreach programs?
Will you devote your time to the church on a part-time or full-time basis?
Will the church’s activities include fundraising?

There are sample bylaws available, which you may edit to suit your needs.

In addition to rules and a belief statement, your organization will need a roster of executives and a board of directors.

The Church’s Name and Structure

While studying how to start a church, it’s critical to decide whether you’ll be starting a basic ministry or establishing a formal church with plans for new structures. Think about the size of your church and the activities you want to participate in. A simple ministry will enable you to hold worship services in tiny community locations. A formal church with hundreds of members, on the other hand, would need the acquisition of a dedicated worship space as well as the hiring of workers to assist administer church operations.

The name of your church is also an important element of the process, yet it is often overlooked when beginning a church. There is a legal distinction between a church and a ministry. Churches have significantly more intricate legal requirements and several perks, while ministries are far less difficult and often include smaller groups of individuals.

How to Get an EIN from the IRS

Before you can formally incorporate your church, you must first get an EIN (Employer Identification Number). After you have filed all of the necessary documents, the IRS will give you one. To get an EIN, you must complete and return an SS4 form from the IRS. This form is available on the IRS website, or a paper copy may be obtained at your local library.

Establishing a Church Business Account

Obtaining an EIN allows you to create a church bank account and, if required, recruit future staff. You will need the following items to create a business account for your church:

The rules and regulations of your church
EIN
Faith Statement
Certification of 501(c)(3) status Statement of Beliefs (for tax exemption)
Money to be used as an initial balance

Some banks will have fewer or more criteria for opening an account on behalf of your church. As a general rule, call the bank first to find out what documents is needed to create an account.