African Methodist Episcopal Church v. Shoulders

This case arises out of a dispute among members and officers of St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church of Port Huron. Defendants appeal the summary judgment granted on plaintiffs’ motion. (The judgment is shown in the appendix infra.)

On April 16, 1970, plaintiffs filed a complaint alleging, inter alia, that the church was an unincorporated association (a copy of the articles of association was attached to the complaint), that the local AME church was a local affiliate of the national AME church, and that the defendants physically prevented plaintiffs’ access to the church building.…