Legal Status and Accountability of Chaplain Fellowship Ministries International
Setting Standards for all Ministries Using the Internet- All Ministries Should Post Their Legal Documents for Public Inspection

Accountability: We cannot count the number of people over the years who have come to us and ask how can they be sure that Chaplain Fellowship Ministries is a real and legal ministry. Most of these people had been taken advantage of by some claiming to be ministries or churches, not caring about who they hurt. We know that there are a lot of people using the Internet to launch fraudulent ministries and churches for their own personal gain. There are diploma mills popping up by the hundreds claiming to be real ministries or churches taking advantage of people coming and going. All we can do is make sure that Chaplain Fellowship Ministries always provides all our legal documentation for accountability purposes. Fraudulent ministries, churches and diploma mills cannot provide such documentation.

The following information has been provided with links to legal documents for public viewing and inspection. It is a requirement of the Internal Revenue Service that ministries or nonprofit making the statement that they are a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit requesting donations using the Internet must post their letter of determination on their web site for public inspection. If they do not have it posted, questions should be asked. Please see below under Internal Revenue Service. Furthermore an established nonprofit should have their Donor Privacy Policy posted on their web site stating they will NOT sell, trade, share or make pubic any of their doner's personal information. Responsibility and accountability are everything in ministry. Many ministries use all kinds of excuses for not posting their legal documents. The fact is many of them do not hold any kind of legal documentation and do not want to be held accountable for the donations they receive or their actions. Where is their accountability or credibility?

Accountability & Credibility:

1. Legal Representation: The honorable Thomas Baird Attorney at Law with the Law Firm of - Baird, Crews, Schiller & Whitaker, P.C., located at 15 North Main Street, Temple, Texas.

2. Legal Representation: The honorable Jack Jones Jr. attorney at law with the Law Firm of Jones & Harrell, P.C. Located at 2106 Bird Creek Dr. Temple, Texas.

3. Background Checks: Chaplain Fellowship runs a CCH's :Check Criminal History" on all applicant and members. The CCH is run through the DPS national data base "Texas Department of Public safety . CFMI also uses Check Mate an online investigative service and Been Verified for more information. Aggregates the most up-to-date public record databases available using web-based software. The following is checked on every applicant: Criminal Records, Inmate Records,Sex Offender Eecords, DUI/DWI Records,Court Records, Arrest Records, Warrant Records, Police Records, Address History, Death Index, Marital Status, Relatives and Associates, Property Records, Reverse Phone Search, Felonies and Convictions, Alias and Date of Birth.

TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE: Chaplain Fellowship Ministries is legally incorporated in the state of Texas as a ministry to do the following. Crisis Response, Disaster Relief, Recruit chaplains and ministers, commission chaplains, Train license and ordains men and women as chaplains and ministers. Furthermore to establish Faith based Skills Training Institutions, Crisis Ministries, Community Development Out Reach Ministries, Missions and Chaplaincy Programs. To view Certificate of Incorporation from the Texas Secretary of State. . For more information.

TEXAS STATE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE: Chaplain Fellowship Ministries International inc. is also recognized by the Texas State Comptroller's Office. To view the letter from the Texas Comptroller office recognizing Chaplain Fellowship Ministries as an Tax Exempt organization. . For more information.

TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES: Homeland Crisis Institute is a specialized training department of Chaplain Fellowship Ministries International. Homeland Crisis Institute has been approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services as an official continuing education provider for the following. The Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners . The Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors and the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists .

Romans 13:1,2 says, 1 "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves."

INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE GROUP EXEMPTION: Chaplain Fellowship Ministries International also holds a 501 (c) 3 Group exemption. The group exemption is a separate exemption under 501 (c) 3 itself. Chaplain Fellowship had to go through the whole process and qualify all over again to obtain the exemption as a Central Organization. To view the group exemption letter . Updated letters are on file at the Chaplain Fellowship home office. (Chaplain Fellowship has current letters of good standing on file)

Many people say that a ministry having a 501 (c) 3 does not mean anything, they will tell you that we are doing what man says instead of following the word of God. That is simply not true as "Romans 13: 1, 2:  clearly makes the law very clear. It is really silly to even make such a statement which in reality goes against the word of God. There are many people in the world today who have a problem being held accountable for their action and what they do with the money they receive as donations. What does it really mean to be tax exempt? It means ministries and public charities are held accountable for their actions and the funds they receive. The IRS does not tell any ministry or church how to use the Lords' money, they do outline how ministries and churches had better not use His money. We can assure that they do watch for those in ministry and the church today who do abuse the trust of the people who give their financial support.

The simple truth is that any web site who claims to be tax exempt and seeking donations must display their exemption letters on their web site in accordance with IRS rules and regulations governing 501 (c) 3 tax exemption. If they not display their exemption letters for public inspection, there is a good chance they are not legally exempt.

DONOR PRIVACY POLICY:

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™Chaplain Fellowship Ministries has members working in Police Departments, Fire Departments, Emergency Services, Hospitals, Hospice, Funeral Homes, Nursing Homes, Federal Agencies to include but not limited to Federal agents with Home Land Security, US Air Marshals, US Border Patrol Agents, Pastors, Priests, Ministers, Bishops, Doctors, Lawyers, Nurses, Teachers, Deputy Sheriffs, Police Chiefs, Crisis Response, Disaster Relief, Christian Bikers, National Guard, Reserves, Coast Guard, Regular Military, VA Hospitals, Faith Based Counseling Centers, Alcohol and Drug Rehab Centers, Children's Homes, Churches, Youth Detention Centers, Outside emergency rooms with families, Prisons, County Jails and Corporate Chaplains. These are some of the areas were members of Chaplain Fellowship Ministries are working as chaplains. These are not just claims we are making, these are real people, members who are working in the mission field as chaplains.

Chaplain Fellowship Chaplains responded and served during and after Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, Virginia Tech massacre, Hurricane Ike, the Fort Hood massacre and Haiti to mention a few. Members of Chaplain Fellowship are serving as chaplains nationwide with police departments, fire departments, emergency services, border patrol, nursing homes, hospice companies, hospitals, in the military serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and many other areas. The members of Chaplain Fellowship work with thousands of people on a daily basis reaching out to those in need. Our mission is to recruit and train chaplains and ministers who will respond to disasters where ever they are needed.

Federal Government contractors, Corporations and foundations our Legal Name is ™Chaplain Fellowship Ministries. Legal Structure is Nonprofit Public Charity. ©Copyright Chaplain Fellowship Ministries.