McGlathery v. Richardson

I first note that the fact that the church at issue is incorporated under Alabama law does not affect my analysis in this case.3 As our courts have stated:

"[I]t has been observed that each religious denomination has its own distinct form of government, and the courts refrain, as far as possible, from interfering when the office or function is purely ecclesiastical or spiritual. . . . To the end that church property may be the better conserved and transferred, it is provided by statute that churches may incorporate. . . . There is nothing in our decisions and the statutory provisions obtaining…