Wash. Ct. App.: Parent Presbyterian denominational body owed deference in dispute with breakaway congregationeligion. Religion Clause reports on the decision
here.
Category: Christian
Ind. Ct. App.: Former pastor entitled to settlement amount, attorney fees; no First Amendment bar to court resolution
Ind. Ct. App.: Former pastor entitled to settlement amount, attorney fees; no First Amendment bar to court resolution. In Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and Second Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Inc. v. Kevin P. Grimes, Sr., No. 18A-PL-2346 (Ind. Ct. App. Aug. 26, 2019), the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed a trial court’s enforcement of a settlement agreement arising from a salary dispute between a Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, one of its districts, one of its congregations and the congregation’s former pastor.
Continue reading “Ind. Ct. App.: Former pastor entitled to settlement amount, attorney fees; no First Amendment bar to court resolution”“Church: Free speech protects decision to fire gay Indianapolis teacher”
“Church: Free speech protects decision to fire gay Indianapolis teacher.” The Indiana Lawyer covers a recent filing in a lawsuit involving the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis and a teacher it directed a school to fire here.
“Sex Abuse Lawsuit Against Jehovah’s Witnesses To Be Filed Today”
“Sex Abuse Lawsuit Against Jehovah’s Witnesses To Be Filed Today” Religion Clause covers the announcement here.
Ill. App. Ct.: Ecclesiastical Abstention Doctrine bars challenge to denial of rental of Catholic Community Center
Ill. App. Ct.: Ecclesiastical Abstention Doctrine bars challenge to denial of rental of Catholic Community Center. Religion Clause covers Sacred Heart Knanaya Catholic Community Center Building Board v. St. Thomas Syromalabar Diocese of Chicago, No. 2-18-0792 (Ill. App. Ct., May 30, 2019), here.
“With Attendance Down, Rural Churches Pool Resources To Keep Doors Open”
“With Attendance Down, Rural Churches Pool Resources To Keep Doors Open” NPR’s Morning Edition aired this story from WFIU Public Radio about rural churches pooling resources to keep their doors open. The story highlights a growing dynamic that often requires thoughtful legal counsel to navigate questions related to employment, governance, and the contract between congregations sharing clergy and other resources.
“Catholic Agency Challenges Michigan’s Child-Placement Anti-Discrimination Policy”
“Catholic Agency Challenges Michigan’s Child-Placement Anti-Discrimination Policy” Religion Clause covers the suit here.
Utah Ct. App.: Mail-in vote violates incorporated denominational governing documents, break-away from UMC invalid
Religion Clause covers the decision in Laumalie Ma’oni’oni Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga v. Ma’afu, No. 2019 UT App. 41 (Utah Ct. App., March 21, 2019), here.
Mich. Ct. App.: Ecclesiastical abstention requires deference to hierarchical church
Religion Clause covers Holy Trinity Romanian Orthodox Monastery v. Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, (Mich. Ct. App. Mar. 19, 2019), here.