Church Law & Tax Report

A federal appeals court ruled that a "press secretary" was barred by the "ministerial exception" from suing her church for employment discrimination.

A Georgia court ruled that statements made by a criminal suspect to his father (an ordained minister) were not protected by the clergy-penitent privilege.

A Pennsylvania court ruled that the state nonprofit corporation law could not be used by disgruntled church members as a legal basis for the removal of the church's board.

A Georgia court ruled that it was not barred by the first amendment guaranty of religious freedom from resolving an internal church dispute involving compliance by the church's members with state nonprofit corporation law.

A federal appeals court ruled that a missions board was not liable for the death of a short-term missionary who was murdered while in Somalia.

A New York court ruled that a preschool could be liable on the basis of negligent supervision for injuries to a four-year-old child who fell down a flight of stairs.

A California court ruled that a church was not responsible on the basis of either "premises liability" or negligent supervision for injuries suffered by a volunteer worker.

A California court ruled that the first amendment guaranty of religious freedom prevented a woman from suing her church for the alleged sexual misconduct of its pastor.

A Minnesota court ruled that a church and denominational agency could not be liable on the basis of negligent hiring for the sexual misconduct of a pastor.