Discrimination Claims Dismissed Under Ministerial Exception

In Cronin v. South Indiana Annual Conference, United Methodist Church, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 57029 (SD IN, Aug. 3, 2007), an Indiana federal district court held that the position of associate council director of the South Indiana Annual Conference falls under the ministerial exception to Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the Americans With Disabilities Act. The associate council director's position involves preaching, program development and administration, and therefore was functionally ministerial. On this basis the court dismissed Deborah Cronin's charges of discrimination, finding it lacked jurisdiction over them.