Legal Developments
This section contains a summary of court decisions, administrative rulings, and legislative developments that directly affect churches and clergy. Court decisions reflect decisions of all state appellate courts and supreme courts, and all federal courts.
State trial court decisions are not reviewed since they are unpublished and have no value as legal precedent. All of these developments are important, but some are of vital significance. Therefore, each development should be reviewed carefully.
Note that there are many “key points” associated with Legal Developments. These are intended to help you more quickly comprehend the importance of each development. To help you go deeper on a specific topic or issue, the numbered key points in Legal Developments align with the numbered key points in Pastor, Church & Law, Fifth Edition (ChurchLawAndTaxStore.com) and the Legal Library available on ChurchLawAndTax.com.

Newest DevelopmentsView All
US Tax Court Fines Pastor $2,500 for “Frivolous” Tax Argument 
Priest Claimed Defamatory and False Statements Led to His Dismissal 
In a Battle of Bylaws, Court’s Intervention with Pastor’s Firing Found Proper 
Protester Could Be Banned from Church Property—but Distance Restriction Found Improper 
Former School Counselor’s Discrimination Claims Barred by Ministerial Exception 
- Church Property
- Sexual Misconduct by Clergy, Lay Employees, and Volunteers
- Employment Practices
- Charitable Contributions
- Personal Injuries on Church Property or During Church Activities
- Freedom of Religion
- Confidential and Privileged Communications
- Zoning
- Clergy - Removal
- Wills, Trusts, and Estates