Rentz v. Werner

¶1 Where the subject matter of a church-related dispute concerns the church’s ecclesiastical affairs, the First Amendment requires a civil court to abstain from adjudicating the dispute. The claims herein at issue con*426cern the power of a church minister and the church’s membership policies, all issues that are recognized as being at the core of a religious organization’s ecclesiastical affairs. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s summary judgment order of dismissal.

I

¶2 This case arises out of a dispute between former members of the Aquarian Foundation, a spiritualist church headquartered…