Establishing an Arbitration Policy for Church Staff Disputes
Avoid costly legal battles through this increasingly popular approach.
Disputes
Court Resolves Lawsuit Addressing Pastor’s Financial Mismanagement
First Amendment doesn't prevent court from resolving lawsuit brought forth by former board members.
Q&A: Combining a Church’s Constitution & Bylaws
Having both documents often leads to inconsistencies.
Q&A: Editing Bylaws
Can we correct grammatical errors without calling a meeting to amend our bylaws?
Common Sources of Parliamentary Procedure
Other options to consider besides Robert's Rules of Order.
What Are Registered and Certified Parliamentarians?
There are two major accrediting organizations for parliamentarians: National Association of Parliamentarians (NAP) The NAP
Creating a Severance Agreement
An effective way to avoid employee disputes.
Whose Church Is It?
California Supreme Court rules on ownership issue between national Episcopal church and local parish that seceded.
Church Employee Fired After Raising Objections to Financial Policies
Court rules that woman can sue church for violation of public policy and emotional distress.
Internal Church Disputes
The courts will not resolve disputes regarding a church's spiritual or ecclesiastical affairs.
Church Property
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld the validity of imposing a trust upon the properties of affiliated churches in favor of the national church.
Defamation – Part 1
The First Amendment limits, but does not eliminate, a church's liability for defamation.
Defamation – Part 2
A District of Columbia court of appeals ruled that a pastor could be sued for defamation for falsely informing a public gathering.
Church Property – Part 1
A denomination's governing documents prevented a church from disaffiliating from the denomination and retaining control of church property.
Arbitration
A federal appeals court enforced the decision of an arbitrator in an employment dispute between a church-operated school and its principal.
Clergy—Removal
A federal district court in Georgia fined a pastor for filing frivolous lawsuits against his denomination relating to his dismissal.
Understanding Offer and Acceptance in Land Sales
New conditions in an acceptance of sale terms can invalidate the acceptance.
Arbitration
An Illinois court upheld the validity of a church arbitration policy despite the alleged "bias" of the arbitrators.
Church Membership
A California court ruled that it was not barred by the First Amendment guaranty of religious freedom from resolving a lawsuit brought by dismissed members challenging the legal validity of their dismissals.
Marriage and Divorce
A Connecticut court ruled that the state's no-fault divorce law did not violate the First Amendment's guaranty of religious freedom.