“Ministerial Exception Requires Dismissal Of Title VII Claims By Catholic School Guidance Counselor” Religion Clause covers the decision here.
Category: Indiana
Josh on Theology Thursdays: Church, State, and COVID-19
Josh on Theology Thursdays: Church, State, and COVID-19 Yesterday I had the pleasure of joining Lutheran pastors James Smith (Trinity Episcopal and St. John’s Lutheran in Three Rivers, Michigan) and Chris Laughlin (Messiah Lutheran in Constantine, Michigan) for their “Theology Thursdays,” which they post to their congregations’ Facebook pages while we keep social distance due to COVID-19. We talked about Church and State issues during COVID-19. It was a fun conversation in a difficult time. Go here to watch the hour-long conversation.
Continue reading “Josh on Theology Thursdays: Church, State, and COVID-19”Doing Business through COVID-19: Can Indiana Nonprofits Hold Membership and Board Meetings Remotely?
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve written a post outlining how to continue doing business with membership meetings and board meetings through electronic means under Indiana law. Read it here. Related to this but with a more national angle (using the Model Nonprofit Corporation Act and Robert’s Rules of Order) are posts about remote board meetings here and action without meetings here, as well as a podcast episode on these issues here.
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.
“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.
S.D. Ind.: Public-school coalition lacks standing to challenge religious charter authority
In an decision by Chief Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana dismissed a lawsuit challenging Indiana’s Charter School Act as an unconstitutional establishment of religion. The court determined that the plaintiffs lacked standing to bring the suit. The decision is here.
“First Amendment suit challenging Charter School Act proceeds”
“First Amendment suit challenging Charter School Act proceeds” The Indiana Lawyer reports here on a decision denying in part a motion to dismiss in Indiana Coalition for Public Education – Monroe County and South Central Indiana, Inc. v. Jennifer McCormick, James Betley, 1:17-cv-01295 (S.D. Ind. Nov. 29, 2017). Religion Clause reports here.
1745 Authority to marry
[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5921739/height/90/theme/custom/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/c30000/” height=”90″ width=”450″]All states authorize clergy to perform marriage ceremonies. But each state has its own definitions and procedures. For example, some states have narrow definitions of who qualifies as clergy, sometimes even requiring registration. And the consequences of not following these procedures can fall on both the marrying couple and the minister.
“New Contraceptive Coverage Rules Challenged As Notre Dame Plans To End Coverage”
“New Contraceptive Coverage Rules Challenged As Notre Dame Plans To End Coverage” Religion Clause reports here on Shiraef v. Hargan (N.D. Ind., filed 10/31/2017).