East Lake Methodist Episcopal Church, Inc. v. Trustees of the Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, Inc.

WALSH, Justice.

In this appeal from the Court of Chancery, we examine the legal standards that govern disputes over church property between local congregations and general ecclesiastical authorities. The Court of Chancery ruled that the general church authority was entitled to exercise ownership and control over the real and personal property, directing the discontinuance of church services, despite the objection of the local congregation. We conclude that the Court of Chancery correctly applied neutral principles of law in recognizing the claim of the general church authority. Accordingly, we…