Presbyterian Church in U.S. v. Mary Elizabeth Blue Hull Memorial Presbyterian Church
Encyclopedia
Presbyterian Church in U.S. v. Mary Elizabeth Blue Hull Memorial Presbyterian Church
was a case involving the secession of two local churches from the parent body Presbyterian Church in the United States
because, they claimed, the Church had departed from its original tenants. The court ruled that the state could not pass judgment concerning religious doctrine or church law.
, its position with regard to the Vietnam War
and other social issues, its embrace of "neo-orthodox" and alleged denial of the Holy Trinity and certain Sunday School
texts. Subsequently the Presbytery of Savannah appointed a Administrative Commission to resolve the dispute. When the two insurgent churches remained intransigent, the Presbytery attempted to take over the seceding churches property until new leadership could be found. The seceding churches then filed suit in the Superior Court of Chatham County to injoin representatives of the parent organization from trespassing on their property. The general church moved to dismiss that injunction and filed a cross-injunction on its own behalf claiming that the state had no authority to determine whether the general church had departed from its tenets of faith and practice. The suits were consolidated for trial.
At the trial the case was decided under the doctrine of "implied trust" and "departure from doctrine", which meant that the jury was instructed to render a verdict whether the general church had violated the trust of its members by departing fundamentally from its original tenets. The jury found from the seceding churches, as did the Supreme Court of Georgia.
was a case involving the secession of two local churches from the parent body Presbyterian Church in the United States
Presbyterian Church in the United States
The Presbyterian Church in the United States was a Protestant Christian denomination in the Southern and border states of the United States that existed from 1861 to 1983...
because, they claimed, the Church had departed from its original tenants. The court ruled that the state could not pass judgment concerning religious doctrine or church law.
Prior history
In 1966 the council of elders of two churches of the Presbyterian Church in the United States voted to secede from the parent organization. They were upset over the parents bodies decisions to ordain women, to remain within the National Council of ChurchesNational Council of Churches
The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA is an ecumenical partnership of 37 Christian faith groups in the United States. Its member denominations, churches, conventions, and archdioceses include Mainline Protestant, Orthodox, African American, Evangelical, and historic peace...
, its position with regard to the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
and other social issues, its embrace of "neo-orthodox" and alleged denial of the Holy Trinity and certain Sunday School
Sunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
texts. Subsequently the Presbytery of Savannah appointed a Administrative Commission to resolve the dispute. When the two insurgent churches remained intransigent, the Presbytery attempted to take over the seceding churches property until new leadership could be found. The seceding churches then filed suit in the Superior Court of Chatham County to injoin representatives of the parent organization from trespassing on their property. The general church moved to dismiss that injunction and filed a cross-injunction on its own behalf claiming that the state had no authority to determine whether the general church had departed from its tenets of faith and practice. The suits were consolidated for trial.
At the trial the case was decided under the doctrine of "implied trust" and "departure from doctrine", which meant that the jury was instructed to render a verdict whether the general church had violated the trust of its members by departing fundamentally from its original tenets. The jury found from the seceding churches, as did the Supreme Court of Georgia.