On The Front Lines
Citing Concern for Religious Freedom, Rutherford Institute Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Defer to Church’s Discretion in Employment Decisions
WASHINGTON, DC — The Rutherford Institute has filed a "friend of the court" brief in the United States Supreme Court in Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. E.E.O.C., a case that tests the limits of "ministerial exception," a First Amendment doctrine that bars many employment-related lawsuits brought against religious organizations by employees performing religious functions. Specifically, the Court is being asked to decide whether the ministerial exception applies to a teacher at a religious elementary school who teaches the full secular curriculum, but also teaches daily religion classes, is a commissioned minister and regularly leads students in prayer and worship.
In weighing in on behalf of Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School, attorneys for The Rutherford Institute have asked the Court to adopt a standard that defers to the church's determination of whether and how an employee is important to the spiritual mission of the church.
"When a church is forced to make employment decisions based on a lawsuit rather than spiritual needs, the end result is that it its core activities and spiritual message are inevitably altered in order to accommodate or protect against government pressures or expectations," stated John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute. "As previous court cases have found, churches must be free to decide for themselves, free from state interference, matters of church governance as well as those of faith and doctrine."
The case of Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. E.E.O.C. relates to an employment claim made by Cheryl Perich, who was hired as a "called" teacher for Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School in 2000. As a "called" teacher, Perich had to be recommended for appointment by the church's elders and board of directors. Perich taught math, language arts, social studies, science, gym, art and music. She also taught a religion class four days per week (two hours total), attended chapel with her class once a week and led chapel services twice a year.
In June 2004, Perich fell ill, was placed on disability and eventually was diagnosed with narcolepsy. When the school began the process of cutting ties with Perich because she could not perform her duties, Perich brought a claim against the school under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The claim was dismissed under the "ministerial exception" doctrine, which precludes courts from becoming involved in claims that would decide the employment relationship of "ministerial" employees. However, the dismissal was overturned on appeal by the Sixth Circuit.
In filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court, attorneys for The Rutherford Institute have asked the Court to reject the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling that whether an employee is a "minister" for purposes of this exemption depends on whether "the employee's primary duties consist of teaching, spreading the faith, church governance, supervision of a religious order, or supervision or participation in religious ritual and worship." Each year, The Rutherford Institute receives numerous complaints involving misinterpretation of the First Amendment's free exercise and establishment clauses.
