Religious Organizations Attorneys In Longmont, Colorado

Religious organizations existed long before the founding of the United States. They entered the Union with their own canon law and judicial system. The founders knew this and set up a wall of separation between church and state. The wall is embodied in the anti-establishment and free exercise clauses in the First Amendment. Religious organizations thus operate within two bodies of law -- the internal canonical laws of the church and the external secular laws of the state. Representation of religious organizations requires knowledge and experience with both bodies of law.  

Experience 

Mr. Marsh has been outside counsel (Chancellor) for the Mountain Sky Conference of the United Methodist Church since 2006. The Conference is a regional judicatory for local churches in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and Montana. He regularly advises the Conference and local churches on matters relating to internal canon law; clergy misconduct; and separation of church and state; and on matters relating to secular law; real estate purchases, sales, and leases; formation, governance, and operation of nonprofit organizations; tax exemptions and exempt organizations; and lay employment.  

He has litigated disputes in secular courts concerning church schisms (see, Reported and Unpublished Cases involving Ma’Afu); free exercise rights and defenses; and employment discrimination. His ecclesiastical litigation includes clergy misconduct cases appealed to the highest judicatory within the United Methodist Church. (Judicial Council Decisions 1094 and1315); and appellate briefing and consultation in cases involving denomination-wide interests. He successfully defended the election of the denomination’s first openly gay bishop. (Judicial Council Decision 1341) 

He is currently serving on the Ad Hoc Committee of Conference Chancellors in the Boy Scout bankruptcy. He is a Past President of the United Methodist Church Conference Chancellor Association.