Court Will Not Intervene In Tennessee Church Dispute

A Southern Baptist megachurch and its pastor escaped civil charges Jan. 4 as a judge dismissed a case that 75 of it members brought against the senior leadership.

Parishioners from Two Rivers Baptist Church in Nashville, Tenn., filed suit in Davidson County Circuit Court against the senior pastor last year. They asserted that he had misappropriated funds and punished those who questioned his authority, according to the Associated Press.

The plaintiffs sought the removal of the Rev. Jerry Sutton, as well as other church officials, but Chancellor Claudia Bonnyman ruled that the court did not have jurisdiction over a church’s internal dispute, Baptist Press reports. Bonnyman did, however, ask the church to give its members more access to internal financial records and meeting minutes.

Larry Crain, attorney for Two Rivers, said the dismissal shows the judiciary unwillingness to meddle in church affairs and noted that the case had drawn national attention from churches.

The plaintiffs have not indicated if they will appeal, but they will demand to see more church documents, said their attorney, Mark Freeman.