Seventh Circuit holds challengers to parsonage exemption lack standing

The Seventh Circuit unanimously rejected a challenge to the parsonage exemption brought by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, concluding that the Wisconsin-based, nontheistic group lacked the legal ability to challenge the statutory exception granted to “minister[s] of the gospel.” Because the Seventh Circuit concluded the plaintiffs did not have standing, it did not reach the question of whether the parsonage exemption runs afoul of the First Amendment. The opinion reverses a decision of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin that held the provision unconstitutional as violating the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. (You can listen to the very interesting oral argument here.*) 

Weekly roundup for September 13, 2014

Here are the posts from this week to the Law Meets Gospel feeds on Twitter, Facebook, and blog.

 Stories from around the Internet posted to the feeds

• Ind. Ct. App.: State antidiscrimination law applies to selection of Roman Catholic high school's basketball team Story here. Opinion here.
• ACLJ sues MD college for discriminating against radiation applicant for mentioning his religious beliefs in interview Press release here.
• 7th Cir. hears argument over constitutionality of parsonage allowance. Story here. Audio here.
• 3rd Cir.: New Jersey’s ban on gay conversion therapy does not violate 1st Amendment Story here. Opinion here.
• 9th Cir.: LAX's ban on soliciting upheld over 1st Amendment objections brought by Hare Krishna. Story here. Opinion here.
• 7th Cir. considers standing to sue at oral argument on ministerial-housing allowance Analysis here.

Have a question about legal issues affecting religious organizations? Let me know at questions@lawmeetsgospel.com, www.facebook.com/LawMeetsGospel, or @LawMeetsGospel.

Weekly roundup for September 6, 2014

Here are the posts from this week to the Law Meets Gospel feeds on Twitter, Facebook, and blog.

 Stories from around the Internet posted to the feeds

• Ind. Ct. App.: State antidiscrimination law applies to selection of Roman Catholic high school's basketball team Story here. Opinion here.
• ACLJ sues MD college for discriminating against radiation applicant for mentioning his religious beliefs in interview Press release here.
• 7th Cir. hears argument over constitutionality of parsonage allowance. Story here. Audio here.
• 3rd Cir.: New Jersey’s ban on gay conversion therapy does not violate 1st Amendment Story here. Opinion here.
• 9th Cir.: LAX's ban on soliciting upheld over 1st Amendment objections brought by Hare Krishna. Story here. Opinion here.
• 7th Cir. considers standing to sue at oral argument on ministerial-housing allowance Analysis here.

Have a question about legal issues affecting religious organizations? Let me know at questions@lawmeetsgospel.com, www.facebook.com/LawMeetsGospel, or @LawMeetsGospel.

Weekly roundup for August 30, 2014

Here are the posts from this week to the Law Meets Gospel feeds on Twitter, Facebook, and blog.

 Stories from around the Internet posted to the feeds

• MT teacher fired for pregnancy sues Catholic school, alleges school singles out pregnant women in enforcing faith Story here. Complaint here.

• Mark Driscoll steps down as pastor of Mars Hill Church during review Story here. Prior post here.

• US judge sides w reality star, says part of Utah's polygamy ban violates Free Exercise clause http://t.co/6jZ6l7wg6n
  Court Awards Attorneys' Fees In Utah Polygamy Law Challenge http://t.co/iY2JGVbRl3

• Beard-and-hair-cutting attacks were personal, 'not hate crimes', court rules Story here. Opinion here.

• Justice Department Sues Minnesota Town Over Denial of Use Permit To Mosque http://t.co/x0JmFgJunL

• Christian evangelists lose appeal over police action at 2012 Detroit-area Arab festival Story here: http://t.co/CFu5jyS3Lu Opinion here.

Have a question about legal issues affecting religious organizations? Let me know at questions@lawmeetsgospel.com, www.facebook.com/LawMeetsGospel, or @LawMeetsGospel.

Weekly roundup for August 23, 2014

Here are the posts from this week to the Law Meets Gospel feeds on Twitter, Facebook, and blog.

Posts to the blog

• You shouldn't make decisions as a body by e-mail, even if your bylaws allow electronic meetings.
  

 Stories from around the Internet posted to the feeds

• Indianapolis Episcopal Christ Church Cathedral sues JP Morgan for $13 million in lost investments from alleged mishandling trust investments. Story: http://t.co/o1ubS6KZAc Complaint here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/237002121/Christ-Church-v-JP-Morgan=

• United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana rules a Southern Baptist college is not required to self-certify its objections under the Affordable Care Act's mandate for employers to cover contraceptives. Story:  http://t.co/LW5Ef3szlP Opinion here: http://www.adfmedia.org/files/LaCollegeDecision.pdf

• Trial court in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, rules Amish families must comply with new ruling on building and sanitary permits or be forced out of their homes. Story: http://t.co/aP29tErBds

• Ninth Circuit: California may require healthcare workers of Catholic residential facility to accompany residents to non-Catholic worship services without infringing on the workers' or the facilities' free exercise. Story: http://religionclause.blogspot.com/2014/08/9th-circuit-state-can-require-care.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter Opinion here: http://www.courthousenews.com/2014/08/19/caretakers.pdf

• Oklahoma City Archbishop sues, then settles, for the return of consecrated host set for use in black mass taken from Turkish priest without knowledge of its purpose Story:   http://t.co/6iIvUnN8va Complaint here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/237388798/Coakley-v-Daniels Settlement covered here: https://news.vice.com/article/catholic-archbishop-drops-lawsuit-over-oklahoma-city-satanic-black-mass

• Fifth Circuit held that a challenge to protections of the bald eagle based on the First Amendment and the Restoration of Religious Freedom Act filed by a church and others should be able to proceed, stating the government hadn't met its burden. Story: https://t.co/x2HtnpN6Fl Opinion here: http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/13/13-40326-CV0.pdf

• South Carolina Supreme Court dismissed a dispute between a suspended bishop of the Methodist Union Episcopal Church and the church's General Officers. Story: http://religionclause.blogspot.com/2014/08/dispute-over-suspension-of-methodist.html?spref=tw Opinion here: http://www.judicial.state.sc.us/opinions//unpublishedopinions/HTMLFiles/SC/2014-MO-034.pdf

•  21 former Mars Hill pastors file complaint against prominent evangelical leader Mark Driscoll Story here: http://www.religionnews.com/2014/08/22/mark-driscoll-charged-allegations-21-former-mars-hill-pastors/

Have a question about legal issues affecting religious organizations? Let me know at questions@lawmeetsgospel.com, www.facebook.com/LawMeetsGospel, or @LawMeetsGospel.

Make decisions in live meetings, which doesn't mean in person

The modern age seems to have brought us two things: more meetings and more ways to meet. But what are the limits of how we can or should use technology to help us make decisions more efficiently? Deciding that means thinking about why we meet and what we give up when using technology to make decisions. The short answer is that teleconferences and Skype are acceptable means to make a decision, e-mail and chat rooms are not. And none of these is permitted unless your organization's governing documents expressly allow for electronic meetings.

Don't vote on minutes—It's a waste of time!

Every religious organization I've ever been a part of has meetings. And inevitably there are minutes for those meetings. And for some reason we feel like we should vote on them, which means we ask for a motion, and a second, and then the vote. It turns out that this not only feels like a waste of time, it is a waste of time.