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Legal Developments

Issues that affect ministers and churches
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StateTitle Category

Child’s Injury Raises Questions of Church Liability

Personal Injuries on Church Property or During Church Activities

A Fired Pastor’s Defamation Suit Is Dismissed Member access only

Clergy - Discipline and Removal; Defamation

“Church Autonomy” Applies in Church Name Dispute Member access only

Church Business Meetings

A Tennessee Missions Agency’s Employment Contract Requires Employees’ Lawsuit to Be Resolved on Basis of Virginia Law Member access only

Employment Practices

Pastor's Letter to Congregation about Former Member's Lawsuit Was Not Defamatory Due to Factual Nature Member access only

Defamation

Members' Right to Inspect Church Records Member access only

Church Records

Jurisdiction Over Hiring Claims Different vs. Supervision Claims  Member access only

Sexual Misconduct by Clergy, Lay Employees, and Volunteers

Informing Church Members of Disciplinary Action Member access only

Church Members; Defamation

Potential Problems with "Religious" Marriages Member access only

Marriage

Take Care When Naming Your Church Member access only

Church Names

Defamation: Statements of Opinion Member access only

Church Property; Defamation

Church Childcare Program Forced to Seek License Member access only

Freedom of Religion; Schools

Clergy-Penitent Privilege and Observations Member access only

Confidential and Privileged Communications; Counseling

Child Abuse Member access only

Recent Developments in Tennessee Regarding Marriage and Divorce Member access only

Recent Developments in Tennessee Regarding Sexual Misconduct by Clergy and Church Workers Member access only

Ownership of Church Parsonages Member access only

Church Property

Spiritual Counsel and the Clergy-Penitent Privilege Member access only

Confidential and Privileged Communications

Court Settles Debate Over Woman's Last Will and Testament Member access only

Wills, Trusts, and Estates

Invasion of Privacy Member access only

Invasion of Privacy