Members' Right to Inspect Church Records

Under what circumstances do church members have a legal right to inspect church records? An Illinois appeals court decision provides some guidance.

Some of the members of a charitable organization incorporated under the state not-for-profit corporation law demanded to see various corporate records. Their request was denied by corporate officers, and the members sued. A trial court ruled in favor of the corporation, and the members appealed. A state appeals court reversed the trial court's decision, and ruled that the members had a broad right to inspect the corporation's records.

The court began its opinion by noting that the corporation was incorporated under the state not-for-profit corporation law, which contains the following provision regarding inspection of corporate records: "Each corporation shall keep correct and complete books and records of account … and shall ...