CALIFORNIA BUS REGULATION EXEMPTION There is some new good news for California bus ministries concerning the ever-changing legislation from the California Air Resources Board (ARB). It appears that the new, stringent regulations for retrofitting older trucks and buses that were being phased in over the next few years are going to provide an exemption for some ministry buses. ARB will not vote on the new proposal until after the January 1, 2014, deadline, but California churches will still need to act BEFORE JANUARY 31, 2014, to take advantage of the exemption. Free legal defense of those facing difficulties for the Biblical faith Free legal counsel to churches and Christians for their ministries Publication of a monthly newsletter, The Legal Alert Legal seminars for ministries to help prevent lawsuits The Legal Alert radio program Preaching in churches across the country Free consulting to local, state, and federal officials and legislators to provide maximum religious liberty Intercessory prayer ministry for requests sent to the ministry office Capital Prayer Initiative Estate Planning Free legal advice for homeschooling families
The anticipated change in regulation will allow vehicles that have an annual total of less than 5000 miles to be exempt from the emissions requirements. Many buses used by churches and nonprofits should qualify for this exemption. The ministry will need to pledge to comply with the revised regulations by following these steps. 1. The ministry must report its fleet of vehicles here https://ssl.arb.ca.gov/ssltrucrstb/trucrs_ reporting/reporting.php. This report must be made before Jan. 31st, 2014, in order to receive the low-use exemption. a. A ministry may find an explanation of the compliance deadlines for various model years at pages 15-16 of the document at: http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/onrdiesel/ documents/tbfinalreg.pdf. Reaching the Young Most studies show that less than 5% of Americans become believers after the age of thirty. Even if that number stretched to 10 or 15%, the need to reach the young people in our society is evident. Many churches are now working hard to reach those in their community, especially the youth. This is a fertile area for church growth. Mother s day out programs, youth-focused evening activities, sports programs, vacation Bible school, and summer camps are some of those activities that are being effectively used to influence the youth for Christ. These programs often naturally create opportunities to interact with parents and grandparents too. b. The initial report asks for the fleet s CA number. If a ministry has not yet obtained a CA number for its fleet, it may apply for one by completing form CHP 362, which can be found at http://www.chp.ca.gov/publications/ index.html, under the Commercial Vehicles drop-down box. 2. After the initial report, the ministry will be required to annually report the January 1st odometer reading before January 31st of the same year. This reporting is made through the website at: https://ssl. arb.ca.gov/ssltrucrstb/trucrs_reporting/ reporting.php. Keeping each ministry bus under the 5000- mile annual limit will save the cost of having to replace vehicles with a newer fleet or retrofitting the emissions filter, which could cost thousands of dollars. It seems however, that every successful ministry is met at one time or another with legal challenges. Darkness tries to destroy light. We at CLA receive many calls about these ministries: How can we transport children? How do we screen out volunteers? and many others.
Reasonable questions to ask church volunteers and limit church liabilities. If your church is considering adding an outreach ministry, call us before you get started. It is easier to fight legal challenges by preparing beforehand than after the fact. We can help you make wise choices when getting started so that you will be wellprepared and be ready to present God s truth with boldness, knowing you are ready to face all the fiery darts of the wicked. If your ministry is already running and you face that challenge, call us. We are prepared to help. We are all commissioned to spread the Gospel. The reward of seeing the children follow after Him is worth the fight; it will bring rejoicing in heaven. Do not let the fear of the roaring lion stop you or even slow you down. CLA is here to help you with free legal counsel. Public Prayer Amazing Grace, one of the more famous Norman Rockwell paintings and once the cover of The Saturday Evening Post, sold recently for $46,000,000. A look at the painting shows a lady with her little boy pausing to bow her head and pray in the middle of a bustling restaurant. Several young men are staring at the two as they give thanks for God s provision. Years ago, such a scene was commonplace in our society, almost expected. How often do we see that now? How often do Christians pause to pray in public? How about you? Our country has changed, yet recent polls still show that the majority (78%) of the population of this country claims some form of Christianity. The Scriptures command us to pray, always. We should see more public displays of praying, not less. Sometimes we fail to pray because we forget. Maybe we are in a hurry. The tyranny of the urgent does seem to control our society far too often. Maybe we don t pray because we fear embarrassment. I pray that is not the reason. In today s society occasionally individuals are threatened by other people, maybe your boss or co-worker, sometimes even those enforcing what they believe is the law. The First Amendment allows us the free exercise of religion. This includes the right to pray. It is a privilege we must take advantage of. It is our honor to fulfill our calling of helping you if you have a question about your right to pray. Contact us if you have a question. an Important Note: The old 399-8300 is no longer the number for the Christian Law Association. That number does not contact the CLA offices. Our new number is 888-252-1969
Promise for A New Year Take a moment with me right now and just thank God for allowing us this new year. This new year brings new challenges but will bring new blessings as well. My legal calendar grows full, but I know that God has a lot to accomplish through each of us. You are probably working on some sort of new year s resolution. Each year, people resolve to do something different or make their lives better in some way. I know a lot of people who decide each January 1 that they are going to read through the Bible in a year. That s a noble goal. Often, they go through the books of Genesis and Exodus well but begin to struggle through Numbers. When the time comes that you begin to waver in your resolve, may I remind you that the Bible is God s Book written to mankind so that we can understand and know Him better. Taking the time to read, study, and meditate on His Word, regardless of the speed of your schedule, is one of the most important and lifealtering things you can do. Looking back over 2013, we saw many legal victories. We saw business owners who are now standing boldly in their communities because CLA attorneys advised them on the law. We helped schoolteachers learn about the founding of America on Biblical principles and echo that to their students. We had the privilege of helping pastors witness to their local neighborhoods and reach souls for Christ. We helped draft policies to protect both children and volunteers at churches so that the Word of God could be easily shared without fear of problems arising. We saw God do a great work in America! This year, we know that issues will be inevitable, but we have an unending resolve that God is going to use you as an individual to do even greater things! Remember, greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. As new items continue to threaten our freedoms, our resolution to serve as legal missionaries will not waver nor diminish. The privilege and honor to serve you is not something we take lightly. Pray for the Christian Law Association as we fight for freedom, and pray for America to once again return to a moral society. Write Us and Promise Will you promise to pray for us? Will you say a prayer for our ministry? Pray for any of the following items: Traveling Mercies and Safety Legal Victories and Witness Continued Good Health God s Blessing Pray for these or any number of others, and then write us to let us know! PO Box 4010 Seminole, FL 33775 info@christianlaw.org
Please pray for CLA attorneys assisting a church in CALIFORNIA with estate planning laws. Please pray for CLA attorneys legally helping a church in WISCONSIN with liability release forms for a mission trip. Please pray as CLA attorneys help draft policies for a church in TENNESSEE about church and parsonage use. to legally assist a ministry in TEXAS with witnessing in local parks. Please pray for CLA s legal missionary team assisting a church in SOUTH CAROLINA with how to legally handle a situation in which a transgendered person is planning to attend a ladies conference at the church. Please pray as CLA attorneys assist a Christian in TEXAS that is being told she is not allowed to witness to her neighbors. Please pray for CLA attorneys legally advising a Christian school in MARYLAND about what to do when social service personnel arrive at the school to speak with a student. Please pray as CLA attorneys assist a Christian in NEW JERSEY with advice about picking up people to attend church services. to assist a church in ALABAMA with policies for payroll of the staff. Please pray as CLA attorneys assist a pastor in IOWA holding a Bible study in his home. to inform a public school teacher about the laws for praying in public schools in NORTH CAROLINA. Please pray as CLA attorneys legally advise a church in MINNESOTA about compensation to volunteers working at the church. Please pray for CLA attorneys advising a church in MISSOURI with policies for their new mentoring program. Please pray for CLA attorneys assisting a Christian family in OKLAHOMA with the state laws and requirements for homeschooling for their children. Please pray as CLA attorneys advise a business owner in MARYLAND about his rights as a Christian businessman and the people he serves. to legally help a church in CALIFORNIA with questions about using buses to pick up children for church. Please pray for CLA attorneys assisting a church in ARKANSAS with updating policies and procedures for the church. to legally assist a Christian school in ARIZONA with questions pertaining to security on campus caring firearms. to assist a public school teacher in RHODE ISLAND who contacted our office about hanging Christian posters at the public school. Please pray as CLA attorneys assist a church in NORTH DAKOTA by reviewing its policies for church records.