Patterson v. Bethel Baptist Church

OPINION

RANDALL, Judge.

L.J. Patterson, et al., (Patterson) appeals from the trial court’s grant of summary judgment to respondent, dismissing Patterson’s claims. Patterson sued Bethel for reinstatement of his membership after Be-thel terminated his membership citing “an organic division” in the church. The Minnesota Baptist Conference affirmed the finding that Bethel was “organically divided.” The trial court found that the dispute was doctrinal and that the civil court was an inappropriate forum in which to litigate the parties’ dispute. We affirm the trial court.

FACTS

Bethel Baptist Church,…