Rise of Independent Congregations Explains Rising Church Litigation

Last Sunday's Tennessean carries a report on the rising number of lawsuits between church members and church leaders. Many times the disputes revolve around spending of funds and access to church financial records. The article quotes experts who say that the rise of mega-churches and other independent congregations means that there is often no hierarchy to which congregants can appeal if they are dissatisfied with the conduct of the church's pastor. So church members turn to secular courts to deal with their complaints.