St. John's Lutheran Church v. State Compensation Insurance Fund

This matter is before the Court on appeal from the Workers’ Compensation Court which held that appellant’s pastor was an employee of St. John’s Lutheran Church for purposes of workers’ compensation coverage. Appellant argues that the pastor is an independent contractor and not an employee. Appellant also argued unsuccessfully before the Workers’ Compensation Court that the designation of the pastor as an employee violated the free exercise clause of both the United States and Montana Constitutions. We affirm.

We phrase the issues before this Court as follows:

1. Did the Workers’ Compensation…