Tennessee Supreme Court justices heard arguments Thursday (Jan. 8) while spotlighting the need for “clarity regarding the church autonomy doctrine” in connection with the Southern Baptist Convention’s abuse response process, Baptist Press reported.
Preston Garner alleges the Convention’s Credentials Committee letter sent in early 2023 after an abuse hotline report led to him losing his position at a Christian school and a rescinded job offer with a church. The SBC’s legal team argued this situation involves “internal governance” protected from state interference. State Solicitor General Matt Rice warned that forcing litigation itself harms religious freedom.
“The very process of requiring religious institutions to engage in litigation over matters of their faith doctrine and internal governance, itself, causes a constitutional harm under the religion clauses,” Rice noted according to the Baptist Press report. “We think this court should recognize as much.”
The court’s ruling is expected in coming months.
Other related story:
SBC oversight group faces TN Supreme Court defamation case challenge -The Tennessean
EDITOR’S NOTE — This report is a summary of a story written by Scott Barkley and originally published by Baptist Press.
