Heartland Presbytery v. Gashland Presbyterian Church

ALOK AHUJA, Judge.

Gashland Presbyterian Church, a local Presbyterian congregation, terminated its affiliation with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (“PCUSA”), a national religious denomination, and with the PCUSA’s Heartland Presbytery. Heartland initiated this action against Gashland, claiming that Gashland held title to its church property in trust for the denomination. The circuit court dismissed Heartland’s first amended petition for failure to state a claim. Because Heartland’s petition fails to allege facts which could establish a trust relationship under Missouri law, we affirm.

Factual…