Legal Resource Databank More property resources Layman Online archive of property articles Chart: Churches leaving the PCUSA Chart: Churches seeking property only PCUSA property documents To help equip churches facing legal matters, to inform churches of legal matters pertaining to property, and as a service to our readers, The Layman Online offers the following resource of legal documents. The documents contained herein are otherwise publicly available, but are consolidated here in an informal manner for ease of reference. Of course, our lawyers have asked us to remind you that in making these documents available The Layman Online and/or The Presbyterian Lay Committee is not offering or rendering legal advice or opinions; for that, you must consult with a lawyer. To add a document or request a link, please e-mail dmast@layman.org. U.S. Supreme Court Watson v. Jones, 1871 Opinion U.S. Supreme Court Shepard v. Barkley, 1918 Opinion Opinion U.S. Supreme Court Presbyterian Church v. Hull, 1969 Opinion U.S. Supreme Court Jones v. Wolf, 1979 Opinion STATE CASE NAME DOCUMENTS AL Central Presbyterian Church in the United States of America of Huntsville, Ala., vs. North Alabama Presbytery Complaint Remand Order Mediation Agreement AL Haney's Chapel United Methodist Church, et al. v. The United Methodist Church, et al. Opinion CA First Presbyterian Church of Roseville, Calif., vs. Presbytery of Sacramento Complaint for declaratory relief, quiet title and injunctive relief Memorandum Of Points And Authorities In Support Of Defendant's Motion To Transfer And Consolidate Actions Notice Of Motion And Motion To Transfer And Consolidate Actions; Memorandum Of Points And Authorities In Support Of Motion; And Supporting Declaration Of Robert Johnson Declaration Of Robert H. Johnson In Support Of Defendant's Motion To Transfer And Consolidate Actions Defendant Presbytery Of Sacramento's Answer To First Presbyterian Church Of Roseville, California's Complaint Ruling on submitted matter CA Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church of Fair Oaks, Calif., vs. Presbytery of Sacramento Complaint for declaratory relief, quiet title and injunctive relief Defendant Presbytery Of Sacramento's Answer To Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church's Complaint CA California-Nevada Annual Conference Of The United Methodist Church et al., v. St. Luke's United Methodist Church et al., Opinion (Calif. Supreme Court let stand a ruling by the state's 5th District Court of Appeal that said St. Luke's can retain its property) CA Serone Church, Inc., Plaintiff vs. Hanmi Presbytery, Inc., A California Corporation, A Constituent Entity Of The Synod Of Southern California And Hawaii, A Constituent Entity Of The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Defendants. Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Reply to Papers Filed in Opposition to Order to Show Cause CA Jane Hyde Rasmussen, et al., vs. The Rev. Praveen Bunyan, et al. Amici Curiae Brief of the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii and Hanmi Presbytery Opinion of the Court of Appeal of the State Of California, Fourth Appellate District, Division Three GA Timberridge Presbyterian Church, Inc. plaintiff vs. Presbytery of Greater Atlanta, Inc. defendant Timberridge original complaint Timberridge amended complaint Timberridge opposition to Atlanta dismissal motion Timberridge TRO motion Timberridge TRO order Atlanta answer and counterclaim Atlanta brief in support of dismissal motion Atlanta motion to dismiss Atlanta response to TRO motion Atlanta supplemental response to TRO motion IA The Prospect Hills Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the Rev. Duane Queen as chair of the Administrative Commission appointed by the presbytery with respect to the Riverside Presbyterian Church, Linn Grove, Iowa, vs. Russell Westbrook, Dennis Somers, and the session of Riverside Presbyterian Church, Linn Grove, Iowa Petition Answer and counterclaims IN Presbytery of Ohio Valley Inc. and the Synod of Lincoln Trails of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Inc., vs. Olivet Presbyterian Church, Inc. and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church Complaint for Declaratory Judgment and Other Relief Notice for extension of time to file responsive pleading to plaintiff's complaint Order granting EPC's disclaimer of interest LA First Presbyterian Church of the city of Baton Rouge, Inc., vs. The Presbytery of South Louisiana Stipulated final judgment Stipulated preliminary injunction order Petition for Temporary Restraining Order, Preliminary Injunction and Declaratory Judgment LA The First Presbyterian Church Of Thibodaux V. The Presbytery Of South Louisiana Of The Presbyterian Church (USA) Petition For Declaratory Judgment Memorandum In Support Of Petition For Declaratory Judgment LA Woodland Presbyterian Church v. The Presbytery Of South Louisiana Petition For Temporary Restraining Order, Preliminary Injunction And Declaratory Judgment Memorandum In Support Of Petition For Temporary Restraining Order, Preliminary Injunction And Declaratory Judgment Stipulated Preliminary Injunction Temporary Restraining Order MS First Presbyterian Church Of Corinth, Mississippi vs. Presbytery Of Saint Andrew, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., Inc. Remanding order A notice of removal Order granting temporary restraining order Complaint Affidavit of Reverend Don Elliott Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Expedited Hearing Answer, Defenses and Counterclaim of Presbytery of Saint Andrew, Presbyterian Church (USA), Inc. Answer to Defendant's Counterclaim Defendant's Motion to Transfer Case to the Chancery Court of Alcorn County Memorandum in Support of Defendant's Motion to Transfer Case to the Chancery Court of Alcorn County Response to Defendant's Motion to Transfer Case to the Chancery Court of Alcorn County Defendant's Response and Cross-Motion to Plaintiff's Motion for Extension of Temporary Restraining Order and Entry of Preliminary Injunction Memorandum in Support of Defendant's Response and Cross-Motion to Plaintiff's Motion for Extension of Temporary Restraining Order and Entry of Preliminary Injunction Reply in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunction/Response to Defendant's Cross-Motion for Preliminary Injunction First Presbyterian Church Of Corinth, Mississippi's Proposed Findings of Facts and Conclusions of Law Motion for Extension of Temporary Restraining Order and Entry of Preliminary Injunction First Presbyterian Church of Corinth, Mississippi's Motion for Summary Judgment (Exhibits from Motion for Summary Judgment) Joint Stipulation Of Dismissal With Prejudice MS First Presbyterian Church of Pascagoula, Mississippi vs. Presbytery of Mississippi Petition for Temporary Restraining Order, Preliminary Injunction and Declaratory Judgment Final Declaratory Judgment MS First Presbyterian Church Of Vicksburg, Mississippi Vs. Presbytery Of Mississippi Final declaratory judgment Stipulated Preliminary Injunction Petition For Temporary Restraining Order, Preliminary Injunction And Declaratory Judgment MS J.J. White Memorial Presbyterian Church of McComb vs. Presbytery of Mississippi Final declaratory judgment Stipulated Preliminary Injunction Petition For Temporary Restraining Order, Preliminary Injunction And Declaratory Judgment NC First Presbyterian Church of Marion, North Carolina, Inc., vs. Presbytery of Western North Carolina Complaint Temporary Restraining Order NC Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas, Inc., V. Carl McSwain, Virginia McDowell, Thelma Chambers, Jeffrey Ross, and Jackie Williams, Trustees of Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of The Americas, A/K/A Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, A/K/A Westside Praise And Worship Center; and Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of The Americas, Mt. Sinai Church, A/K/Amt. Sinai Baptist Church, A/K/A Westside Praise and Worship Center Opinion NY The Presbytery of Hudson Valley of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and Rev. Richard M. Spierling as chair of the Administrative Commission appointed by the said presbytery with respect to The First Presbyterian Church of Ridgebury vs. The trustees of the First Presbyterian Church and congregation of Ridgebury a/k/a Ridgebury Church and/or The Church at Ridgebury, trustees of the Presbyterian Church of Ridgebury, New York and the Ridgebury Presbyterian Church; and Lori Deblock, Les Kirby, Marie Knibbs, Dorothy Kwapong, Ronald Lyons, Theda Wolfe, The Rev. Robert W. Hoag and Stanley Wayne N.Y. Supreme Court decision Notice of Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment NY First Presbyterian Church of Oakfield, N.Y., vs. Presbytery of Genesee Valley Presbytery's Web page of court documents First Presbyterian Church of Oakfield, N.Y., against the Presbytery of Genesee Valley Oakfield attorney's affidavit accompanying the reply OH Hudson Presbyterian Church v. Eastminster Presbytery Motion for a temporary restraining order Temporary restraining order Presbytery's request for a temporary restraining order Eastminster Presbytery's motion for summary judgment Hudson Presbyterian Church's motion for summary judgment Response of State of Ohio ex rel. Marc Dann, attorney general, to plaintiff's and defendant's motions for summary judgment Eastminster Presbytery's reply brief Hudson Presbyterian Church's reply brief in support of summary judgment in its favor and in opposition to Eastminster Presbytery's motion for summary judgment Hudson Presbyterian Church's separate reply brief to the response of Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann OK Kirk of the Hills Corporation, an Oklahoma not-for-profit corporation church vs. The Presbyterian church (USA) an unincorporated association, and (Tulsa) Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery of The Presbyterian Church (USA), f/k/a/ Presbytery of Tulsa or Presbytery of Eastern Oklahoma, an Oklahoma not-for-profit corporation church Motion for Summary Judgment with Exhibits Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery's response Petition to the court PCUSA's Response and counterclaim Presbytery's affidavits on church property Transcript of decision heard Oct. 26, 2006 PA Peters Creek United Presbyterian Church v. Washington Presbytery Temporary injunction Complaint in Civil Action for Declaratory Judgment and to Quiet Title Emergency Motion for Preliminary Injunction Motion to Lift Temporary Injunction PA Presbyterian Congregation of Tredyffrin Township, in the County of Chester, Inc. v. Presbytery of Donegal, Inc. Action to Quiet Title and Seeking Other Declaratory Relief PA Presbyterian Congregation of Upper Octorara, Inc., d/b/a/ Upper Octorara Presbyterian Church v. Presbytery of Donegal, Inc. Action to Quiet Title and Seeking Other Declaratory Relief PA Presbyterian Congregation of Brandywine, in the Township of West Nantmeal, in the County of Chester, Inc. v. Presbytery of Donegal, Inc. Action to Quiet Title and Seeking Other Declaratory Relief PA Church of St. James the Less vs. the Episcopal Church of the Diocese of Pennsylvania Supreme Court of Pa., Eastern District opinion PA Memorial Park Presbyterian Church, v. Pittsburgh Presbytery Complaint in Civil Action for Declaratory Judgment and to Quiet Title PA Presbytery of Beaver-Butler v. Middlesex Presbyterian Church, 489 A.2d 1317, 1323 (Pa. 1985) PA Presbytery of Donegal v. Calhoun, 99 Pa. Commonwealth, 300, 513 A.2d 531 (1986) PA Presbytery of Donegal v. Wheatley, 99 Pa. Commonwealth 312, 513 A.2d 538 (1986) PCUSA documents Articles of Incorporation of the Presbyterian Church (USA) The Louisville Papers Church Property Disputes: A Resource for those Representing Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Presbyteries and True Churches in the Civil Courts Processes for use by presbyteries in responding to congregations seeking to withdraw PCUSA's Constitutional Services: Advisory Opinions: Note 11 – Church Property Advisory Opinions: Note 17 – Schism Advisory Opinions: Note 19 – Implementing the Trust Clause for the Unity of the Church Constitutional Musings: Note 12 – Responding Pastorally to Troubled Churches