News & Updates
Chicago School Board Must Face Trial Over Program with “Hidden Religious” Elements
The City of Chicago Board of Education will have to face trial on charges brough by former student Amontae Williams alleging its Quiet Tie program was a forced religious exercise. The lawsuit centers around the implementation of a program called “Quiet Time” in...
Donation Opportunity: Paul in Rome
In this painting, Paul is depicted under light house arrest as imagined in a reading of Acts 28:30, possibly in the Spring of 62 AD. He is outside of his house but note the chain on one ankle and some of the “seven hills of Rome” in the background. Luke wrote the Book...
1992 Letter to Jim Queen
Writer’s Direct Line: (312) 853-8709 September 2023 jmauck@mauckbaker.com Dear Brothers and Sisters: This letter is a follow-up to your request for a letter concerning the requirement that any church desiring to locate in Chicago, in a business or commercial...
Mauck Baker Report Sept. 2023
LGBTQ or Religious Rights: Which One Trumps Employment Decisions at a Christian School? The power to hire and fire is vital to the health of a religious institution. So, is a religious school entitled to hire its staff and teachers on the basis of those who will, in...
Church Parking Problems
Hopefully, your congregation has a parking problem! If you have fewer parking spaces than needed to accommodate the folks that want to worship with you, it means more people can attend, hear the gospel, and respond, if you can solve the problem. Here’s a bit of...
Evangelists Win Lawsuit
Millennium Park in Chicago, “Home of the Bean,” attracts 20,000,000 visitors per year. Wheaton students Matthew Swart, Gabriel Emerson, Jeremy Chong, and Caeden Hood were among the few who were unwelcome because park rules prohibited throughout 90% of the park their...
Case Update: Keystone Montessori School is Found to be Exempt from Real Estate Taxes After More Than 4 years of Litigation
On May 12, 2023, 4 ½ years after Keystone Montessori School filed for real estate tax exemption, the Illinois Department of Revenue finally issued its Order of Determination recommending that the Keystone Montessori School is entitled to a 100% real estate tax...
Where do Churches Fit?
When zoning practices emerged in the early 1900’s, many city planners treated churches as residential uses. For years this zoning scheme was a natural fit for most communities. Without the convenience of cars or mass transit systems, church-goers typically worshiped...
2022 Mauck & Baker Practice Highlights
At Mauck & Baker, we have been busy assisting our clients with a variety of matters. Many of our clients are mission-driven, and we are privileged to play a role that directly serves in accomplishing our clients’ visions. Below are some of the highlights that...