Missionary's Bias Claim Dismissed Under Ministerial Exception Rule

A missionary has lost her racial and sexual discrimination suit against her former employer, Africa Inland Mission International, Inc. ("AIM"), challenging her termination in Namibia. In  its decision, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 70084 (D DC, Sept. 24, 2007), the federal district court for the District of Columbia applied the "ministerial exception" rule to dismiss plaintiff's claim that AIM wanted to turn the property where her home for abused and neglected children was located into a bead and breakfast for Whites. AIM said that plaintiff had been charged with abuse of children and improper sexual behavior. The court said that "Determining whether AIM's termination of [plaintiff] fell within ... contractually-permitted parameters--or whether ... [it] was motivated by other concerns--would involve inquiring into 'a core matter of ecclesiastical self-governance not subject to interference by a state'." The court also rejected defamation, breach of trust, conversion and unjust enrichment claims by plaintiff. [Note: This posting has been modified to eliminate the name of the plaintiff at plaintiff's request.]