Clergy—Removal - Part 1

Clergy—Removal

Key point 2-04.1. Most courts have concluded that they are barred by the first amendment guarantees of religious freedom and nonestablishment of religion from resolving challenges by dismissed clergy to the legal validity of their dismissals.

Termination

* A Michigan court dismissed a lawsuit brought against a church by a former pastor who was terminated as a result of a consensual relationship he initiated with a female church employee. A church hired an associate pastor ("Phil"). Three years later, Phil was promoted to senior pastor. As senior pastor, he was responsible for leading worship services, conducting educational classes, furthering the teachings of the church, and making annual reports regarding church activities to a parent denomination. Phil remained employed as senior pastor until church leaders terminated his employment three years later. Phil ...