Employment Practices – Part 2
A Minnesota court ruled that a religious school and a parent denomination did not unlawfully discriminate against a homosexual teacher.
Denominations
Church Property – Part 1
A denomination's governing documents prevented a church from disaffiliating from the denomination and retaining control of church property.
Employment Practices – Part 2
A federal court in New York ruled that a denominational agency could not be sued for the sexual harassment of a church employee by two pastors.
Freedom of Religion – Part 1
A federal appeals court ruled that a prison is only required to reasonably accommodate the religious preferences of inmates, and need not respond to every prisoner's demands for religious expression.
Sexual Misconduct by Clergy, Lay Employees, and Volunteers – Part 3
A New York court ruled that a church and denominational agency were not liable for the sexual misconduct of its senior pastor.
Church Property – Part 2
A Georgia court concluded that a local church's attempt to disaffiliate from a parent denomination failed because the church did not comply with procedural requirements.
Church Property – Part 1
A Connecticut court ruled that a denominational agency had no authority to retain the property of a church that voted to withdraw.
Freedom of Religion – Part 1
A federal court in New York ruled that a church-operated juvenile residential facility camp was not liable for the "unauthorized baptism" of a 14-year-old Jewish girl.
Chaplains – Part 1
A federal appeals court ruled that an inmate's constitutional rights were not violated by a prison policy.
Church Property
A Massachusetts court applied the "compulsory deference rule" in resolving a property dispute.
Church Property – Part 1
A Michigan court ruled that a regional church had the legal authority to control the property of a local church that attempted to disaffiliate.
Clergy—Selection
A New York court ruled that a denominational agency could not interfere with a church's selection of a pastor or the management of its affairs.
Sexual Misconduct by Clergy, Lay Employees, and Volunteers
An Ohio court ruled that a denominational agency was not liable on the basis of negligence for a pastor's sexual misconduct involving a member of his congregation.
Church Property
A North Carolina court ruled that the property of a local church that voted to withdraw from a denomination automatically vested in the denomination because of a "trust" provision in the denomination's canons.
Sexual Misconduct by Clergy and Church Workers – Part 1
An Arizona court ruled that it was not barred from resolving a lawsuit brought by a female church member as a result of her pastor’s financial and sexual misconduct.
Church Property
A Michigan court ruled that a city failed to acquire title to church property because the transaction had not been approved by a parent denomination as required by the church's bylaws.
Defamation – Part 2
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that a pastor could sue his denomination for publishing a statement that he had been suspended from all pastoral duties because of "formal charges of sexual misconduct."
Denominations—Legal Liability
A federal court in Louisiana ruled that a church in Florida was not responsible for the liabilities of a church in Louisiana.
Defamation – Part 2
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that a pastor could sue his denomination for publishing a statement informing other pastors and the media that he had been suspended from all pastoral duties because of "formal charges of sexual misconduct."
Church Property
Maryland's highest court ruled that the property of a local church that disaffiliated from a national church belonged to the local church.