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Court Refuses To Order Church Election For Pastor

By Howard Friedman

In Worcester, Massachusetts last week, a state trial court judge refused to issue a preliminary injunction requiring the Second Baptist Church to schedule an election on the nomination of Rev. Thurman A. Hargrove as the church's pastor. Earlier this year the court refused to issue a preliminary injunction to prevent the dismissal of the 79-year old Hargrove who had been serving as pastor. The latest claim grew out of an attempt by one of Hargrove's supporters to get him reinstated by nominating him under the church's bylaws. The court said that a review of the bylaws failed to support Hargrove's claim that an election was required. It also noted that the First Amendment limits the circumstances under which it can intervene in church affairs. Last Friday's Worcester Telegram & Gazette reports on the decision.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on April 22, 2008 (boomark / email).