DOES YOUR CHURCH OR MINISTRY NEED LEGAL SERVICES?
TRUSTED BYÂ HUNDREDS OF CHURCH LEADERS!
TRUSTED BYÂ HUNDREDS OF CHURCH LEADERS!
We Help Churches Of All Sizes:
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âś“Â Trusted By The Largest Global Churches
âś“Â Helped Launch 100's of Churches & Ministries
âś“Â Strategic Legal & Operational Support On All Levels
JOIN THE CLS STARTUP PLAN
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Church Size:
JUST STARTING
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âś“ Expert Support
âś“ Proactive Legal Tools
âś“ Trusted Strategic Access
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INCLUDING:Â
STRONGCHURCHES
Video Program & Document Library
Legal Hourly Work
Legal Services
STRONGCHURCHES
Video Program & Document Library
CLS Member Discount
Standalone Legal Services
CLS Member Discount
Hourly Rates
$300
Legal Credit
WHAT LEGAL SERVICES DO WE OFFER?
Regan VanSteenis & CLS are responsible for over $1B in transactions in 100's of churches & ministries over 20 years. Here are some of the most common legal services offered:
Startup & Legal Foundations
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Articles of Incorporation & Bylaws
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EINs + Optional S-Corp Election
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Conflicts of Interest Policy
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Tax Exemption Applications
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First Board Meeting Guide
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LLC Setups + Operating Agreements
Pastoral Compensation & Wealth
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astor Pay & Compensation Approvals
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Housing Allowances & Tax Savings Strategies
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Sermon Ownership & Intellectual Property Protection
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Pastor Wealth Deep Dives
Ordination & Certification
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Ordain, License & Commission Ministers Confidently
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Applications, Guidelines & Board Approval
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Annual Renewal & Compliance
HR & Staffing Resources
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Recruiting, Interviewing, Screening & Verifying
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Employee Engagement, Raises & Discipline
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Termination, Severance & Off-Boarding
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Corporate Governance Reviews
Volunteer Onboarding & Child Safety
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Volunteer Screening & Onboarding Processes
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Supervising Programs & Removing Wrong Volunteers
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Zero-Tolerance Child Safety Policies
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Child Safety Reviews & Certifications
Essential Legal Documents
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The Big Power 3: Release, Confidentiality & Independent Contractor Agreements
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Contract Reviews & Custom Drafting
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Client Agreements & Contractor Agreements
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Partnership, Influencer & Affiliate Agreements
Intellectual Property & Trademarks
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Trademark Filings & IP Protection
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Trademark Takedowns & Dispute Resolution
Audits, Reports & Reviews
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Comprehensive Church Legal Audits & Reports
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Deep Insurance Savings Reviews
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Overhead Efficiency Reviews
Strategic Growth & Succession
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Succession Planning for Leadership Transition
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Strategic Governance Oversight
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Access to Regan’s Elite Service Network
WHAT'S IN YOUR
24/7 ACCESS?
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STRONGCHURCHES Document Library
âś“ 24/7 Video Guidance
EVERYTHING FROM
âś“ Governance & Risk-Management Templates
âś“ Child-Safety Protocols
âś“ Pastor-Compensation
Strong Foundations
Start Up SystemÂ
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Start taking tax deductible donations within 30 days!
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Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, EINs, Tax Exemption
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Conflicts of Interest, Board Meeting Guide
The Complete HR
Resource Kit
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Hire Right: Recruiting, Interviewing, Screening, Verifying
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Lead Right: Employee Engagement, Raises, Discipline
- End Right: Termination, Severance, Off-Boarding
Ordination Certification Program
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Ordain, License & Commission Ministers Confidently.
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Guidelines, Applications & Approval
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Legal Compliance & Renewals
The Big Power 3 Documents
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Release Agreement
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Confidentiality Agreement
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Independent Contractor Agreement
Volunteer Onboarding
& Child Safety
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Screen & Onboard Volunteers, Interview Process
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Supervising Programs, Removing The Wrong People
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Zero Tolerance Child Safety Policies & Procedures
Pastors' Financial
Freedom Toolkit
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Setting Up Pastor Pay & Compensation Approval
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Housing Allowances & Income Tax Savings
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Owning Your Sermons & Wealth Building Strategies
WHERE DO MEMBER DISCOUNTS APPLY?
CLSÂ Members Get
âś“ 10% off Standalone
Legal Projects
âś“Â 20% off Hourly Rates
Discounts Apply For:
- Trademark Filings
- IP Protection + Trademark Takedowns
- Church Audits + Reports
- Deep Insurance Savings Reviews
- Overhead Efficiency Reports
- Pastor Wealth Deep Dives
- Elite Network Access
- Corporate Governance Reviews
- Succession Plans
- Child Safety Reviews
- Child Safety Certifications
- LLC Setups + Operating Agreements
- EINs + Optional S-Corp Election
- Contract Reviews + Drafting
WHAT CLIENTS ARE SAYING!
Pastor John Gray, Relentless Church
"I wouldn’t want to take on any project of significance without her wisdom, insight, advice, and experience."
Pastor Darren Sim, Director, Joseph Prince Ministries
"We love working with Regan as she carries a spirit of excellence in all that the Lord has entrusted her with—in her service, area of legal expertise, and wise counsel."
Jonathan and Amanda Ferguson, Revival Culture Church
"She pulls from the word of God. Everything she does is driven by a sense of purpose that's connected to her destiny … Also, she's just fun…So, on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best, we would rate her 1,000…"
Israel Campbell, Senior Pastor Flourishing Church, Hermosa Beach & Gardena
“What would we have done without Regan? Launching a church can be overwhelming, especially in California.”
Apostle Guillermo Maldonado, King Jesus Ministry
"Regan has deep knowledge and strong experience in legal, HR, and business matters specifically in the church/ministry context..."
Pastors Daniel and Janelle Viareal, Grace Avenue Church
"Regan has been providing Grace Avenue Church with legal and business advice since its founding, from strong foundational documents and planning, to employment questions, to pastoral compensation issues, to intellectual property matters, and more."
Craig Johnson, Champions Foundation Founder
"Regan is an expert in her field and there is no one you would want more to have you start your organization and/or continue to help it grow."
Caleb Konneman, Founder, Church Alive
"Working with Regan was a very smooth process and very easy. And most importantly, I could move forward in confidence knowing that my family, my church, and my legacy were protected and built on a strong foundation."
Sandy R. Pineda, King Jesus Ministry
"Regan has deep knowledge and strong experience in legal, HR, and business matters specifically in the church/ministry context. Also, Regan has an exceptional eye for detail and organization, and the right professional demeanor to perform the oftentimes stressful work she does so well. Beyond that, however, what really sets her apart is that all her knowledge and experience are coupled with a genuine heart and respect for the church and those in ministry. That is an unbeatable combination!
Pastor John Gray, Relentless Church
"I wouldn’t want to take on any project of significance without her wisdom, insight, advice, and experience."
Pastor Darren Sim, Director, Joseph Prince Ministries
"We love working with Regan as she carries a spirit of excellence in all that the Lord has entrusted her with—in her service, area of legal expertise, and wise counsel."
Jonathan and Amanda Ferguson, Revival Culture Church
"She pulls from the word of God. Everything she does is driven by a sense of purpose that's connected to her destiny … Also, she's just fun…So, on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best, we would rate her 1,000…"
Israel Campbell, Senior Pastor Flourishing Church, Hermosa Beach & Gardena
“What would we have done without Regan? Launching a church can be overwhelming, especially in California.”
Apostle Guillermo Maldonado, King Jesus Ministry
"Regan has deep knowledge and strong experience in legal, HR, and business matters specifically in the church/ministry context..."
Pastors Daniel and Janelle Viareal, Grace Avenue Church
"Regan has been providing Grace Avenue Church with legal and business advice since its founding, from strong foundational documents and planning, to employment questions, to pastoral compensation issues, to intellectual property matters, and more."
Craig Johnson, Champions Foundation Founder
"Regan is an expert in her field and there is no one you would want more to have you start your organization and/or continue to help it grow."
Caleb Konneman, Founder, Church Alive
"Working with Regan was a very smooth process and very easy. And most importantly, I could move forward in confidence knowing that my family, my church, and my legacy were protected and built on a strong foundation."
Sandy R. Pineda, King Jesus Ministry
"Regan has deep knowledge and strong experience in legal, HR, and business matters specifically in the church/ministry context. Also, Regan has an exceptional eye for detail and organization, and the right professional demeanor to perform the oftentimes stressful work she does so well. Beyond that, however, what really sets her apart is that all her knowledge and experience are coupled with a genuine heart and respect for the church and those in ministry. That is an unbeatable combination!
Have Questions or a Specific Legal/ Operational Issue?
Let's Talk.
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FAQs
What types of legal and operational services do you provide for churches and ministries?
We specialize in church nonprofit formation, 501(c)(3) compliance, bylaws drafting, risk management, pastoral compensation guidance, trademark protection, child safety, HR, and more—everything a church needs to stay legally secure and operationally strong.
How do your membership plans work, and which one is right for my church?
Our tiered membership plans are designed to fit churches of all sizes—from small startups to megachurches. Each pastor-centric plan offers a mix of legal audits, document packages, ongoing counsel and operational support. We help you choose the best fit based on your church’s size, growth stage, and legal needs. Take our quiz to get an answer instantly!
Who is Regan VanSteenis and what experience does she bring to Church Law and Strategy?
With over 20 years as Chief Legal Counsel to major churches and ministries, Regan VanSteenis is the powerhouse attorney and trusted advisor behind more than $1 billion in church transactions. Her career includes landmark deals like the acquisition of an NBA arena for church use, launching SiriusXM’s Joel Osteen Channel, and providing counsel on over 10 New York Times bestsellers. A pastor’s daughter with deep roots in ministry, Regan combines elite legal insight with operational expertise and a deeply aligned spiritual conviction. She created Church Law & Strategy to help ministries grow boldly and securely—offering unmatched expertise in governance, tax, HR, and risk management.
What makes Church Law and Strategy different from traditional law firms?
We combine deep legal expertise with a Biblically-focused approach to strategy and operations. CLS offers proactive, practical solutions that are pastor-centric and tailored specifically for churches and faith-based organizations—helping you avoid costly mistakes before they happen.
How quickly can I get started, and what does the onboarding process look like?
Getting started is simple. The Startup Plan and Foundation Plus Plan members receive email instructions instantly to start their legal and operational work. The Pastor Support Plan and Executive Plan members will book an onboarding call to streamline the process.