Braswell v. Purser, 73
Decision Date | 13 December 1972 |
Docket Number | No. 73,73 |
Citation | 193 S.E.2d 90,282 N.C. 388 |
Court | North Carolina Supreme Court |
Parties | Herman Flake BRASWELL, Individually, et al. v. James Rommie PURSER et al. James Rommie PURSER, Individually, and as Elder of the Shiloh True LightChurch of Christ, et al. v. Herman Flake BRASWELL et al. |
Bailey & Davis by Douglas A. Brackett, Charlotte, for defendant appellees and plaintiff appellees Purser and others.
The courts of the State have no jurisdiction over and no concern with purely ecclesiastical questions and controversies. There is a constitutional guarantee of freedom of religious profession and worship, as well as an equally firmly established principle of separation of church and state. However, the courts do have jurisdiction as to civic, contract and property rights which are involved in or arise from a church controversy, including the right to determine the type organization of a particular church. Reid v. Johnston, 241 N.C. 201, 85 S.E.2d 114 (1954), and cases therein cited. See also Conference v. Creech and Teasley v. Creech and Miles 256 N.C. 128, 123 S.E.2d 619 (1961); Simmons v. Allison, 118 N.C. 763, 24 S.E. 716 (1896).
The present cases are proceedings invoking the equity jurisdiction of the court to restrain interference by the opposing parties with official church duties. At issue is whether Shiloh Church must accept as elder an appointee of Braswell or retain Purser who was elected by its membership. The decisive question for determination is whether the Shiloh True Light Church is subject to congregational or connectional form of ecclesiastical government. Braswell contends that it is connectional, and that he was elected head elder by the Conference of the True Light Churches of Christ and as such had the right to appoint Clyde M. Huntley as elder of the Shiloh Church. Purser contends that there is no Conference since Shiloh is now the only active True Light Church of Christ. He further contends that Shiloh is and always has been a congregational church and as such had the authority to elect Purser as its elder.
Concerning the difference between those churches whose organization is connectional and those congregational, Chief Justice Clark in North Carolina Christian Conference v. Allen, 156 N.C. 524, 72 S.E. 617 (1911), stated:
In the instant case, upon...
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Hewett v. City of King
...Church & Missionary Fellowship, Inc. v. North Carolina, 299 N.C. 399, 406, 263 S.E.2d 726, 730 (1980) (quoting Braswell v. Purser, 282 N.C. 388, 393, 193 S.E.2d 90, 93 (1972)). Thus, the court has "recognized that while the religiousclause of the state and federal Constitutions are not iden......
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Hewett v. City of King
...Church & Missionary Fellowship, Inc. v. North Carolina, 299 N.C. 399, 406, 263 S.E.2d 726, 730 (1980) (quoting Braswell v. Purser, 282 N.C. 388, 393, 193 S.E.2d 90, 93 (1972))). Thus, the court has “recognized that while the religious 104 clause of the state and federal Constitutions are no......
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Hewett v. City of King
...Vill. Church & Missionary Fellowship, Inc. v. North Carolina, 299 N.C. 399, 406, 263 S.E.2d 726, 730 (1980) (quoting Braswell v. Purser, 282 N.C. 388, 393, 193 S.E.2d 90, 93 (1972))). Thus, the court has “recognized that while the religious 104 clause of the state and federal Constitutions ......
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Heritage Village Church and Missionary Fellowship, Inc. v. State, 87
...profession and worship, "as well as an equally firmly established principle of separation of church and state." Braswell v. Purser, 282 N.C. 388, 393, 193 S.E.2d 90, 93 (1972). The Legislature oversteps the bounds of this separation when it enacts a regulatory scheme which, whether in purpo......