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The LeadingSmart Podcast
Honest conversations. Practical insights. Smarter leadership.
Hosted by Tim Stevens and Holly Tate, The LeadingSmart Podcast exists to equip church leaders who care deeply about leading with integrity, clarity, and wisdom—even when it’s hard.
We are officially on Season 3! This season is about staying sharp in today’s rapidly changing environment. We’ll dive into the practical issues leaders are facing right now—from running effective executive team meetings to navigating crucial conversations to leading in moments when the playbook doesn’t exist yet.
Holly and Tim are moving out of the studio into our offices, and they will be recording and posting in real time, responding to current events as they happen, sharing fresh insights from our work with leaders across North America.
Be sure to email us at tim@leadingsmart.com if there are specific topics you want us to cover!
Enjoy!
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The LeadingSmart Podcast
[S3EP13] Top 5 Legal Issues Facing Churches in 2026 (What Every Pastor Must Know)
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What are the biggest legal risks churches are facing right now?
In this episode of the Leading Smart Podcast, we sit down with church attorney Keith Richardson from Michael Best to unpack the top five legal issues impacting churches in 2026 — and what executive pastors, senior leaders, and boards must proactively address.
Keith and his team work with over 400 churches nationwide, giving him a front-row seat to the real challenges pastors are navigating today.
We cover:
- Child protection policies & abuse prevention – How to safeguard your church and properly respond to allegations
- Religious freedom & First Amendment rights – What churches need to know about the right to worship and protestors
- Church leadership transitions – How to avoid messy senior pastor exits and public fallout
- Church bylaws & board governance – Why outdated governing documents create personal liability for leaders
- AI in ministry – How artificial intelligence is reshaping church operations, sermon prep, and risk management
Whether you’re a lead pastor, executive pastor, board member, or church administrator, this episode will help you protect your church, steward your leadership well, and prepare for what’s ahead.
If you’ve ever wondered:
- Do our child safety policies actually protect us?
- Could our board be personally liable?
- Are we legally prepared for a pastoral transition?
- Should we have an AI policy for our staff?
- What are our constitutional rights as a church?
This conversation is essential listening.
🎧 Subscribe for practical leadership insights, church governance strategy, and real-time guidance for leading in today’s changing legal and cultural landscape.
Get in touch with Keith Richardson at MichaelBest
https://www.michaelbest.com/people/keith-richardson/
Email: kerichardson@michaelbest.com
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