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Licensing Procedures for Churches

Written by John Walter Friday, 09 May 2008 13:30

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Baltimore Presbytery and each of the participating churches in the Cuba Partnership are licensed separately through the Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).  All churches interested in the partnership should  understand that travel is regulated by OFAC, and that without US governmental authorization, travel to Cuba is prohibited and punishable by substantial fines.

Pastors of Baltimore Presbytery's churches may be added to the Presbytery's OFAC License for trips of up to a week's duration. This is a practice the partnership usually takes advantage of to make introductory trips so that pastors can evaluate and learn something about the Cuban Presbyterian Church. Later, if the congregation is interested in pursuing a relationship, they will apply for their own license at:              
       
        http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/programs/cuba/cuba.shtml

The process is straightforward. Follow the guidelines found at the above web site. The application is not online so churches have to write the application using the suggestions found in the guidelines, then mail the application to
OFAC.  If all guidelines are followed, OFAC will send a license in about ten working days. It has been my  experience that churches with many applications will not find this process difficult if they give accurate and full account of  the itineraries followed during the trips.

OFAC licenses for individual churches are good for two years, do not require churches to list participants, and do not have time limits on the trips.

The Presbytery's OFAC license limits trips to one week, requires the names, addresses, and phone numbers of participants, and is valid for one year, unless like Baltimore Presbytery, the purpose of the license is for Humanitarian Relief.

Baltimore Presbytery also holds a Department of Commerce License, allowing it and its delegates to export approved medicines and equipment to Cuba. Baltimore Presbytery is linked to Interchurch Medical Assistance, World Health, an association which allows the Presbytery to receive medicines from the manufacturers at extremely low cost.

Suggestions for writing an application to OFAC:

  • Be familiar with Baltimore Presbytery's program in Cuba.
  • Know which churches are already members, and learn something about their experiences which may help you write your application.
  • Contact the partnership leader by calling the Presbytery. Or talk to the Presbytery staff person who has had direct experience with the partnership.
  • Try not to sound too stiff or lawyerly, the agents reading these applications are not expecting a legal document.
  • Later: Be thorough in keeping records of who went on trips, the dates, a clear idea of what was experienced.  All of this will facilitate any future application.