As the end of summer nears, many churches are putting the finishing touches on their plans for fall ministry events. While such activities are a great avenue for fellowship and community outreach, churches must also understand that certain activities, such as hayrides, come with a good deal of risk and the potential for a costly lawsuit.
Consider this case: A church got caught up in a third-party lawsuit when a parishioner who was injured on a church-sponsored hayride sued the property owner. While the church was not liable for the injuries in this situation, it should not be overlooked that someone was seriously hurt during a church-sponsored activity. “Churches should not authorize or schedule such events (for minors or adults) without stringent safeguards to protect against injury or death,” Hammar cautions in his analysis.
Before proceeding with any plans for hayrides—or other risky activities—this fall, be sure to check out Hammar’s 18 specific precautions. (Linked article requires subscription.)
Article from Church Law & Tax — Church Finance — 8/26/2021
Richard Hammar, Attorney, CPA
Photo by Patrick Fore on Unsplash