Wallace v. Trustees of the General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church of North America

Citations

• 194 Pa. 178
• 45 A. 84
• 1899 Pa. LEXIS 755

Syllabus

<p>Church law — Wrongful ousting of preacher from his office — Equity.</p> <p>If, in violation of its own laws, a church ousts a preacher from his pulpit and in effect wrongfully deprives him of his living, he can have recourse to the civil courts for restoration of his rights.</p> <p>When rights of property are in question, civil courts will inquire whether the organic rules and forms of proceeding described by the ecclesiastical body have been followed.</p> <p>Equity — Parties defendant — Church law — United Presbyterian Church.</p> <p>A bill in equity filed by an ordained preacher of the United Presbyterian Church alleging that he had been wrongfully deprived of his office is properly served upon the trustees of the general assembly, a body incorporated under the act of March 22, 1860, by the title of “Trustees of the General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church of North America,” and when so served the bill will be entertained by a court of equity.</p>