Responding to a Disruption During a Service

A Kansas court ruled that a church was not liable for the use of reasonable physical force by an usher in restraining a woman during a church service who was making threats against the pastor.

It's critical for church leaders to note this ruling because it shows the level of control they can have regarding a disruptive person. Churches do not have to tolerate persons who disrupt religious services. Church leaders can ask a court to issue an order barring the disruptive person from the church's premises. If the person violates the order, he or she may be removed from church premises by the police, and may be found to be in contempt of court.

In Kansas, a church member ("Esther") had a dispute with her church regarding a stained glass window committee of which she was a member. After the church removed her from the committee she resigned her membership in the church. Esther ...