Incorporation

Many had suggested that the Foursquare work in Sri Lanka should go on for at least ten years before trying to be incorporated as a denomination in Sri Lanka. However, the National President, Leslie Keegel, had strong conviction that the church should be incorporated as soon as possible.  This was considered impossible by some who had declared that without a great deal of money and influence that incorporation would never happen. The first lawyer who looked at the papers saw the name of the church and laughed, "Foursquare! You are making a monkey out of the Gospel. This will never work here. Parliament will have a good laugh and throw the application away."

In spite of this opposition Leslie pressed on. Gathering copies of incorporation papers from the other churches he managed to collect enough information to come up with something that would be both Sri Lankan and Foursquare. He took his work to a lawyer who looked over the papers and said, "This is perfect, you have the legal terms and you have all of the information. I don't have to do anything." Then he charged Leslie, six hundred rupees and sent him on his way.

Next a government minister was needed to process the incorporation papers. The first minister who was approached said that he would have to consult his bishop before he would do this.