Court Will Decide Pastor's Claims Against His Former Church

In Duncan v. Peterson, decided Sept. 8, 2005, the Illinois Court of Appeals permitted a pastor to sue his former church that revoked his ordination. Richard Duncan, and Hope Church of which he was pastor, sued Moody Church, its pastor and chairman of its board of elders. They alleged that defendants invaded Duncan's privacy by sending false and misleading letters revoking Duncan's ordination as a minister. They also alleged conspiracy to damage Duncan's reputation. Duncan, who had been ordained by Moody Church, was charged by defendants with financial and personal wrongdoing. The trial court had dismissed the claims based on the doctrine of ecclesiastical abstention. The court of appeals reversed that holding in part, finding that Duncan's claims can be decided without extensive inquiry into religious law and policy.