Challenge To Firing Of Youth Director Dismissed; Defamation Claim Goes On

In Patton v. Jones (Tex. 3d Dist. Ct. App., May 11, 2006), a Texas appellate court upheld dismissal of some of the claims brought by Ken Patton, a Methodist church's Director of Youth Ministries, who was terminated from his position after rumors circulated about his dating certain women and hugging girls at church. There were also unsubstantiated rumors about his viewing pornography. The court held that the Free Exercise clause prohibits state interference in church governance matters. Therefore actions taken and communications made by the Church as part of its employment decision about Patton's ministerial position are ecclesiastical matters protected from secular review. However, the court permitted Patton to proceed with defamation claims that arose out of statements made about him after the Church's decision on his dismissal was final.