Texas Judge Allows Defamation Suit Against Pastor and His Church To Proceed

In San Antonio, Texas yesterday, a state trial court judge refused to dismiss a defamation lawsuit against Summit Christian Center and its pastor Rick Godwin. Former church member Larry Nail claims in the suit that the pastor defamed him from the pulpit by accusing him of bribery after Nail attempted to expose the pastor's spending of church funds. Defendants had argued that the lawsuit involves an internal church religious dispute that is beyond the jurisdiction of civil courts, saying the pastor was relying on Biblical authority to discipline Nail for being spiritually divisive. Today's San Antonio Express-News reports that District Judge Barbara Hanson Nellermoe made the ruling after hearing more than two days of testimony.