Legal Resource Databank
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 pkincaid@layman.org.
U.S. Supreme Court | Watson v. Jones, 1871 | |
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U.S. Supreme Court | Shepard v. Barkley, 1918 Opinion | |
U.S. Supreme Court | Presbyterian Church v. Hull, 1969 | |
U.S. Supreme Court | Jones v. Wolf, 1979 | |
U.S. Supreme Court |
St. James Parish in Newport Beach, Calif. vs. The Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Los Angeles |
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STATE | CASE NAME | DOCUMENTS |
Ala. | Central Presbyterian Church in the United States of America of Huntsville, Ala., vs. North Alabama Presbytery |
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Ala. | Haney’s Chapel United Methodist Church, et al. v. The United Methodist Church, et al. |
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Ala. | The First Presbyterian Church of Tallassee, Ala., vs. Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley | |
Ark. |
ARKANSAS PRESBYTERY OF THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH and the Reverend Michael Qualls, Moderator of the Arkansas Presbytery, v. Gary D. HUDSON, Palmetto Cumberland Presbyterian Church by and Through Its Elders, Bobby Gene Jones, Carol Norris, Arvil Hudson, Glen Bond, Sr., Kenneth Norris, Kurt Richter, as Trustees for the Palmetto Cumberland Presbyterian Church. |
Supreme Court of Arkansas decision. |
Ark. |
Somboun VIRAVONGA (Khamla), Preecha Improm, Pan Hanshana, Terrakun Karnchanakphan, Thao Sayskoumane, Sy Lovan, Chintana Brandes, Phra Sagob Parisanto, Sam K. Phonekhanan, Phra Bouaphan Prathphan, Khamnang Sayakoumane, Appellants, v. Wat Buddha SAMAKITHAM, Oukham K. Khattachanh, Bounsa Sisoukrath, Bouasay Keobounhome, Sam Siripounsavath, Oulayvanh Maymoundok, Appellees. |
Supreme Court of Arkansas decision. |
Ark. |
ARKANSAS ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF the AME CHURCH, INC. and African Methodist Episcopal Church, Inc., Appellants, v. NEW DIRECTION PRAISE AND WORSHIP CENTER, INC., Daryl Bailey, Lloyd Worthy, and Vivian Nooner, Appellees. |
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Calif. | First Presbyterian Church of Roseville, Calif., vs. Presbytery of Sacramento |
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Calif. | Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church of Fair Oaks, Calif., vs. Presbytery of Sacramento |
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Calif. | California-Nevada Annual Conference Of The United Methodist Church et al., v. St. Luke’s United Methodist Church et al., |
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Calif. | 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. |
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Calif. | Jane Hyde Rasmussen, et al., vs. The Rev. Praveen Bunyan, et al. |
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Calif. | Episcopal Church Cases |
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Conn. | The Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Connecticut et al. v. Ronald S. Gauss et al. | |
Ga. | Timberridge Presbyterian Church, Inc. plaintiff vs. Presbytery of Greater Atlanta, Inc. defendant |
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Ga.
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Christ Church in Savannah v. Episcopal Diocese of Georgia |
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Ill. | Byron W. York vs. First Presbyterian Church of Anna |
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Iowa | 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 |
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Ind. | 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 |
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Kan. |
Colonial Presbyterian Church vs. Heartland Presbytery |
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La. |
Carrollton Presbyterian Church vs. Presbytery of South Louisiana of the PCUSA |
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La. | First Presbyterian Church of the city of Baton Rouge, Inc., vs. The Presbytery of South Louisiana |
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La. | The First Presbyterian Church Of Thibodaux V. The Presbytery Of South Louisiana Of The Presbyterian Church (USA) |
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La. | Woodland Presbyterian Church v. The Presbytery Of South Louisiana |
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Mo. |
Colonial Presbyterian Church vs. Heartland Presbytery |
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Mo. |
Heartland Presbytery vs. Gashland Presbyterian Church |
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Miss. | First Presbyterian Church Of Corinth, Mississippi vs. Presbytery Of Saint Andrew, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., Inc. |
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Miss. | First Presbyterian Church of Pascagoula, Mississippi vs. Presbytery of Mississippi |
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Miss. | First Presbyterian Church Of Vicksburg, Mississippi Vs. Presbytery Of Mississippi |
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Miss. | J.J. White Memorial Presbyterian Church of McComb vs. Presbytery of Mississippi |
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N.C. | First Presbyterian Church of Marion, North Carolina, Inc., vs. Presbytery of Western North Carolina |
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N.C. |
Presbytery of Western N.C. vs. Montreat Presbyterian Church (EPC) and Trustees E.A. Andrews Jr., Jessie G. Barker and Natalie W. Schermerhorn |
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N.C. | 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 |
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N.Y. |
The Trustees of the Presbyterian Society of Cayuga Creek vs. The Presbytery of Western New York | |
N.Y. | 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 |
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N.Y. | First Presbyterian Church of Oakfield, N.Y., vs. Presbytery of Genesee Valley |
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N.Y. |
Lancaster Presbyterian Church v. Presbytery of Western New York |
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Ohio | Hudson Presbyterian Church v. Eastminster Presbytery |
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Ohio | Eastminster Presbytery vs. Stark & Knoll | |
Ohio | The PRESBYTERY OF OHIO VALLEY, INC. d/b/a the Presbytery of Ohio Valley d/b/a Ohio Valley Presbystery, and the Synod of Lincoln Trails of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Inc. d/b/a the Synod of Lincoln Trails, Inc., Appellants–Plaintiffs,v.OPC, INC. f/k/a Olivet Presbyterian Church, Inc. d/b/a Olivet Presbyterian Church d/b/a Olivet Evangelical Presbyterian Church d/b/a Olivet Presbyterian Church of Evansville, Olivet Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Evansville, Inc. d/b/a Olivet Evangelical Presbyterian Church, and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church d/b/a Evangelical Presbyterian Church of America, Appellees–Defendants. | |
Okla. | 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 |
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Oregon | Hope Presbyterian Church of Rogue River vs. Presbyterian Church (USA) and Presbytery of Cascades | |
Pa. | Peters Creek United Presbyterian Church v. Washington Presbytery |
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Pa. | Presbyterian Congregation of Tredyffrin Township, in the County of Chester, Inc. v. Presbytery of Donegal, Inc. |
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Pa. | Presbyterian Congregation of Upper Octorara, Inc., d/b/a/ Upper Octorara Presbyterian Church v. Presbytery of Donegal, Inc. |
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Pa. | Presbyterian Congregation of Brandywine, in the Township of West Nantmeal, in the County of Chester, Inc. v. Presbytery of Donegal, Inc. |
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Pa. | Church of St. James the Less vs. the Episcopal Church of the Diocese of Pennsylvania | |
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) | |
S.C. |
All Saints Parish – Waccamaw vs. The Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of South Carolina |
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Texas |
Robert Masterson, Mark Brown, George Butler, Charles Westbrook, Richey Oliver, Craig Porter, Sharon Weber, June Smith, Rita Baker, Stephanie Peddy, Billie Ruth Hodges, Dallas Christian and The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd vs. the Diocese of Northwest Texas, the Rev. Celia Ellery, Don Griffis and Michael Ryan | |
Texas |
Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, et al. v. Episcopal Church, et al. | |
Va. | In Re: Multi-circuit Episcopal Church Property Litigation |
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Articles of Incorporation of the Presbyterian Church (USA)
The Louisville Papers
PCUSA’s Constitutional Services: