Why Mercy Seat Church is NOT Incorporated

Most churches in America are structured as corporations. Most readily 501c3 corporations. But here at Mercy Seat we are not a state corporation. We are opposed to being so. We have a strong conviction against being such.

And that of course raises the question – why?

This sermon lays out the principle and conviction as to "why" not. It also addresses some of the nuts and bolts of functioning as an unincorporated church; and it exposes and responds to the three most common reasons churches do incorporate. 38 min. MercySeat.net

"A more certain way to attack religion is by favor, by the comforts of life, by the hope of wealth; not by what reminds one of it, but by what makes one forget it; not by what makes one indignant, but by what makes men lukewarm, when other passions act on our souls, and those which religion inspires are silent. In the matter of changing religion, State favors are stronger than penalties.”
The Spirit of the Laws, Baron de Montesquieu (1748)

Here is a link to a recent position paper by a Christian lawyer: http://mercyseat.net/mscc/docs/Should-the-Church-Incorporate-with-the-State.pdf