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Welcome To Unaligned Church
- Unaligned Church
- Mar 29, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Oct 20
Shalom, Traveler!
Welcome and thank you for stopping by. Before you venture onward on your journey, allow us to explain a few things, what you should expect from our us and the theme of our ekklisía.
Unaligned Church LLC (UC) is different from a lot of churches, primairly because we were not called to be a 501(c)3 or a 508(1)(c)(a) religious organization. It's nothing personal to our brothers and sisters who have tax exempt status and have been called to be such, but calling and our purpose with the Lord does not align with the typical churches who form under either of those branches. For those who don't know what these two terms mean, allow us to provide a breakdown of the two.
Understanding A 501(c)(3) & Non-Profit Organization
A 501(c)(3) is a specific category of non-profit organization in the United States that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recognizes as exempt from federal income tax. To be eligible, the organization must be exclusively organized and operated for one of the following purposes:
Charitable
Religious
Educational
Scientific
Literary
Testing For Public Safety
Promoting National & International Amateur Sports Competitions
Preventing Cruelty To Children Or Animals.
Key Characteristics & Regulations
Tax-Deductible Donations: Donations to a 501(c)(3) are tax-deductible for the donor, making it the only type of non-profit organization with this benefit.
Restrictions on Political Activity: These organizations are strictly prohibited from engaging in any political campaign activities for or against candidates and may face limitations on legislative lobbying efforts.
No Private Benefit: A 501(c)(3) cannot be organized or operated for the benefit of private interests, meaning that no net earnings can benefit any private shareholder or individual.
Organizational Types: A 501(c)(3) may be classified as either a public charity or a private foundation, each with distinct regulations and funding sources.
Permanent Dedication Of Assets: In the event of dissolution, a 501(c)(3)’s assets must be permanently dedicated to an exempt purpose, typically by distributing them to another tax-exempt organization or government entity.
How To Obtain 501(c)(3) Status
The steps to secure 501(c)(3) status from the IRS are as follows:
Incorporate The Nonprofit: File Articles of Incorporation at the state level to establish the organization as a legal entity.
Apply For An Employer Identification Number (EIN): Obtain this number from the IRS.
File The Appropriate Application With The IRS: Seek federal tax-exempt status by completing one of the following forms:
Form 1023-EZ: A streamlined, shorter form for smaller organizations with projected gross receipts of less than $50,000 and total assets under $250,000.
Form 1023: A longer, more comprehensive form for all other organizations.
Understanding A 508(c)(1)(A) Tax-Exempt Status
A 508(c)(1)(A) provision in the U.S. Internal Revenue Code grants automatic tax-exempt status to churches and similar religious organizations without necessitating an application to the IRS. Unlike most nonprofits that need to apply for 501(c)(3) status, a 508(c)(1)(A) organization is a unique type of 501(c)(3) that is automatically recognized upon its establishment, provided it meets the IRS criteria for a church.
Key Features Of A 508(c)(1)(A) Organization:
Automatic Exemption: Churches do not need to submit IRS Form 1023 to gain official tax-exempt recognition, unlike most other nonprofits that must file and await IRS approval.
No Annual Reporting: Organizations qualifying under 508(c)(1)(A) are exempt from filing annual informational tax returns, such as Form 990.
Tax-Deductible Donations: Since they are automatically classified as 501(c)(3) entities, donations made to a 508(c)(1)(A) church are tax-deductible for donors.
No Political Campaign Intervention: Similar to all 501(c)(3) organizations, churches are strictly prohibited from engaging in political campaigns for or against any public office candidates.
No Private Benefit: To maintain tax-exempt status, a church must ensure that no earnings benefit any private individual.
There are potential misunderstandings about 508(c)(1)(A) we want you to be aware of. Some organizations or promoters may mislead individuals into thinking that a 508(c)(1)(A) is a distinct legal structure that completely avoids government oversight or evades all taxes. This is inaccurate for several reasons.
Still Subject Rules: A 508(c)(1)(A) entity remains a 501(c)(3) organization and must comply with identical regulations, including the requirement to operate exclusively for religious or charitable purposes.
Taxable Unrelated Business Income: Any income derived from activities not substantially related to the church’s tax-exempt mission may be subject to Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT).
No "Filing" for 508: There is no specific IRS form to apply for 508(c)(1)(A) status; it is a provision that recognizes qualifying organizations without the need for an application.
Ability to Obtain an IRS Determination Letter: A church can voluntarily file Form 1023 to receive an official determination letter from the IRS. While this is not mandatory, it can enhance credibility for fundraising or grant applications.
Elohim went a different direction with this flock wanted us to be LLC, have full control of our assets and to provide helpful services to the public. We use a car theme on the website and on Discord, where the online church is housed and where we stream our Sabbath evening service and Sunday evening service. If you're curious as to why we have cars displayed on the website and our Discord server Elohim wanted to use a allegory to reach the lost. Our temple is the car, the roads we travel are two paths. One path is cramped and narrowed and the other is broad and leads to a dead end.
Here at Unaligned Church we use our understanding of these complex topics so we can witness better and meet people where they’re at. For example, if someone has trauma with anger or rejection, our clergy can’t speak with passion that it will come off as “angry” or volcanic in appearance. If the topic of sin is mentioned, we need to make sure messages are clean, formal and don’t pinpoint a particular person so they don’t feel attacked, which can lead to rejection. All of these steps are taken to assure our members and visitors will have a easy, peaceful experience with us.
We must make sure when we listen to others, we don’t do something that will be perceived as bigoted, rude, disrespectful and condescending in a sinful way. Of course it’s impossible to please everyone as much as it to be perfect in the eyes of the public, but putting forth the effort to understand people, their triggers and being mindful of their boundaries is a good characteristics of our church. Most churches just preach and do whatever comes natural or in some cases, whatever they deem good. Sometimes, this will mean overlooking wounded, struggling people or people who have questions and want to ask them without the fear of being bullied, harassed or seen as a problem for simply asking their questions.
Our mission is straight forward. Globally we teach the truth of the whole Book (Bible), make disciples and prepare the flock to go out into the world to witness for Yeshua Christ. Locally, we desire to bring Travelers closer to the Lord and to unify avoid division. We stand together to support one another through the challenges we face, offering understanding, compassion and a safe space to heal. No matter what burdens you carry, you are not alone. We think it’s reasonable to think that if we choose to understand and help each other that we (the church) and the other party can find strength and solace in our shared experiences and can work towards peaceful solutions. Whether you are a member or visitor, you are welcome in our online home, where your story is valued and your struggles are met with love and acceptance.
We are determined to show people of all walks of life and beliefs the ahavah of Elohim the way it was intended from the start. We’re not interested in just having people join our team for the sake of it all. We want team players who understand that as a Christian, we cannot be hypocritical in our walk, talk and personal life. We must match what we teach and read about or we need to be quiet and bow our heads in shame for failing to due our Christian duty. Our approach, as well as all Christian churches, should be one of compassion and understanding, where kindness, respect is the love language while caring for individuals with a glad heart.
There is no room for judgment or discrimination based on factors such as race, gender, disability, or orientation and it will be evident in our speech and simply how we conduct ourselves when challenged, pressed and asked questions about Elohim, the Book and our reason for being Christians. Unaligned Church is not perfect, but we are meek, humble people who will admit when we’ve done wrong and will do our best to remedy situations. We also aim to foster affirming and inclusive culture where everyone can freely express themselves and be accepted just as they are.
Another good attribute we have going for us despite that the majority disagree, is our endorsement of the legit canonical 200 book that were wrongly removed from Yahweh’s book. In our church and in our sermons, we focus on the canon of 266 books of the Book, excluding any false books and doctrines. Our commitment lies in pursuing accurate truth, prioritizing factual understanding over biased perspectives, opinions or beliefs regarding the canon books. This dedication ensures that our community is grounded in a foundation of authentic faith and spiritual wisdom.
© Unaligned Church 2024
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