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Texas Court Upholds Firing of Pastors By Church Elders

By Howard M. Friedman

Friday's Houston Chronicle reports that a state district court judge has agreed with a special master's findings in a long-running internal dispute at the Korean Christian Church of Houston. The church split last September in a dispute over finances. In November, church elders fired youth pastor Seung Woong Ok. In response, senior pastor,Paul C. Park said he was dismissing the board of elders. The Board of Elders immediately fired Park. However the pastors refused to step down. The Elders sought a temporary restraining order, while the pastors called a meeting of supportive congregants who voted to oust the Elders. The dispute led to disruption at worship services and police were called in several times. In December, the Elders excommunicated 100 members and 20 were warned that the police would arrest them for criminal trespass if they came onto church property. Since then, the competing groups have held separate Sunday services at different locations.

Both sides asked the court to step in. Special Master E. Michelle Bohreer decided that the Elders had authority to fire the pastors and that the meeting Park organized to dismiss the elders was invalid. In the underlying dispute over finances, the special master said that the church is not obligated to issue an annual financial report, allow inspection of its records or submit to a financial audit. Those findings were approved by District Judge Elizabeth Ray who ordered that the pastors be enjoined from coming within 500 feet of the church and that they pay the prevailing parties' attorneys fees. The attorney representing a group of excommunicated deacons says he will ask the court to enter a final judgment so an appeal can be filed.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on July 20, 2008 (boomark / email).