Denominational authority over a local congregation or its property is rarely extinguishable at the local level. If it is severable, the process is likely long and arduous. The process often depends upon unilateral agreement by the denomination which is historically unlikely to be obtained for any reason. Indeed, it is so unlikely the better plan is simply to develop external resources and then quietly exit the denominational local church, leaving behind a shell.

In Cedar Grove Baptist Church v Barnham, Slip Op. (Unpublished) (NJ App Div., 2019), the pastor advised the denomination he was leaving the denomination and taking the church with him. Apparently, however, his plan was not known, and later not supported, by the church he served. Indeed, in the ensuing battle over the local church property, the church leadership appointed a new pastor and then sued to enjoin the former pastor from control or presence on the church property. The trial court granted the injunction and the appellate court affirmed.

While instinctively church members think of the local church and its property as “theirs” and not the denomination’s property, this is rarely totally true. If a church has been a member of a denomination for many decades generations of the faithful have contributed to its existence. While the current generation may disdain the denominational roots, the denomination speaks for the generations that went before that now have no other voice. However that may be, denominations that themselves “go rogue” or no longer meet the need of a particular local church cannot stop a group of members from leaving and organizing under a different banner using their own resources. While growth by fission is painful, it is not illegal.

While placing a church under external supervision is a rare exercise in judicial power, it is not unheard of. We have reported on imposition of Special Masters, especially to determine membership or supervise elections. Mediators and Special Masters are not always different species. Also, mediators sometimes do not use shuttle diplomacy between striving factions but rather impose procedures, as do sometimes Special Masters, so that the resolution process may advance. If a church split is bad enough, and cannot be resolved merely by reviewing organizational documents, then a mediator or Special Master may be appointed.

In Eskridge v Peacock, Slip Op. (Miss. App. 2018), after the death of a pastor, two striving factions emerged each attempting to appoint the next pastor. There appeared to also be a fracture in recognized church leadership that made congregational rule either a stalemate or problematic. To resolve the impasse, the trial court appointed a mediator with instructions to conduct a congregational election. The mediator appointed was the denominational authority to which the church appeared to belong. Indeed, the court had to take testimony to confirm the church was part of the denomination appointed to mediate. A new pastor was elected under the supervision of the mediator but the losing faction appealed. The appellate court held that appointment of a mediator to supervise the congregational vote and ordering enforcement of the result, but not otherwise dictating the choice of pastor, did not entangle the trial court in ecclesiastical matters so the trial court was affirmed.

Churches may wish to contemplate in their bylaws mandating the appointment of an identified mediator in to be used in the event of court action. Possible mediators could include denominational authority, bible college faculty, or a particular accounting or lawfirm. Indeed, the language of the appointment could also include mandatory pre-litigation requirements that such a process be undertaken. The language should also specify the powers of the mediator or Special Master. A funding mechanism should also be spelled out. Demanding the challenger pay half or all of the cost may keep out all but serious challengers.

Mad Magazine has for many years published a comic strip entitled “Spy v. Spy.” It has since spread to YouTube videos and a video game. While that comic strip may have been inspired in 1961 by the Cold War, other famous small conflicts included the Hatfields and McCoys, which also spawned a US Supreme Court case in the 19th century and various dramatic interpretations. Like all such feuds, the factual history of any feud is winding and complex and not nearly as funny as “Spy v. Spy.” Unraveling the motives behind the ongoing feud is usually impossible.

In Fidelity National Title Insurance Company v New Haven Financial, Inc., Slip Op. (Cal. App. 2018), the death of the founding pastor in 2005 resulted in a power struggle between two rivals for the pastorate of the church. Several lawsuits resulted as each side in turn sought judicial relief against the other. Meanwhile, the denominational authority refused to accept the election of first one of the rivals and then the other. Further, one of the courts to hear one of the cases held the denominational authority was the only authority that could oversee an election and needed to do so because the church’s membership records were possibly unreliable. For no reason that was reported in the opinion, the denomination did not do so and the feuding continued in court. Eventually, one rival won a final judgment in a prior case. During the litigation, the rival that was later defeated in court, representing himself as pastor of the church, obtained a loan for $150,000 using church property as collateral. The foreclosure action was defeated by the winning rival and the title company had to pay the claim. The title company sought reparations from the rival, by then the losing rival, that took out the loan. The title company also sued the family of the defeated rival because the money was allegedly distributed to family members. The defeated rival filed a cross claim against the winning rival. The trial court dismissed the cross claim holding the prior ruling against the defeated rival barred further litigation of the issue by not only the defeated rival, but “parties in privity,” which included the family member that appealed in this case.

While church splits are not common enough to cause church members to even envision the possibility, church leaders should. Church and denominational documents should envision succession plans, election procedures and oversight, and membership roles should actually be kept by churches. Denominations should inspect membership lists, or require their submission at reasonable intervals, or at least require at reasonable intervals a certification in writing from the church that there is an actual membership list maintained. Denominations and church leaders may have to do more than pray for peace, they may have to impose it in extreme situations.