Your Guide to Meeting the Qualifications of a Pastor in Oregon

Step 4. Consider Forming a Christian Ministry of Your Own in Oregon

For some the call to ministry goes even beyond senior leadership levels at a church. God calls some to be pastors of their own church; to plant their own ministries.

Responding to the Lord’s call means you still have a bit to go along your path to fulfilling His command. As you consider the spiritual aspects of founding your own congregation it’s important not to overlook the business ones.

Incorporating your church as a non-profit religious organization requires a two-pronged approach from the state and federal levels.

Your first step will be to work through the state-level process of incorporating your church in Oregon:

• First you need to choose a name for your church. You can check this directory to make sure your church’s name isn’t already taken.
• Research the local requirements for starting a business in the city where you live. You may need a city business license.
• Next you need to draft Articles of Incorporation with the Oregon Secretary of State. These explain the basic structure and membership of your church.
• The Articles ask you to specify a Registered Agent as the person who will accept legal services for your church.
• Your church also needs an address, and you need to name a president and secretary of your church.
• As part of the Articles of Incorporation you also need to specify how your church’s assets will be distributed should it become dissolved. This is also referred to as a Declaration of Trust.
• Even though you’ll first submit your Articles of Incorporation, including your Declaration of Trust, to the Oregon Secretary of State, you’ll also need to submit these later to the IRS. Therefore its a good idea to structure these so they include the information you need for the IRS. The IRS provides examples of what information you need to include on your Articles of Incorporation and Declaration of Trust.
• You can submit these to the Oregon Secretary of State’s Corporate Division in Salem by mail or online. There’s a $50 fee.
• If you have employees you need unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation.
• If your church plans to solicit donations then you need to register as a charitable organization with the Oregon Department of Justice.

At this point you’ll be finished with the state requirements for establishing your church as a non-profit religious organization. Remember to submit an annual report to the Oregon Secretary of State each year.

Next you’ll need to register your church as a federal 501(c)(3) nonprofit with the IRS:

• First you’ll apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) using an SS-4 Form.
• Next submit a Form 1023 to the IRS ($275 fee); this is your official application for non-profit 501(c)(3) status. Include your Articles of Incorporation and Declaration of Trust.

Once you’ve properly registered your new church you can begin focusing on fulfilling your calling to become a church-planting pastor in Oregon.

Congratulations! You’re about to embark on a new and exciting journey walking hand-in-hand with the Lord.

2020 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures and job market trends for Religious Workers, Church Directors, and Clergy based on state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed March 2022.