Judge dismisses lawsuit against Baptist megachurch pastor

January 11, 2008 09:37 am

— NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A judge dismissed a lawsuit against the senior pastor and two other leaders of a Southern Baptist megachurch, saying the court lacked jurisdiction over the case.
A lawsuit filed last year by about 75 members of Two Rivers Baptist Church accused the Rev. Jerry Sutton of failing to abide by church rules and punishing those who question his authority.
The members accused Sutton of misappropriating funds, including using church money for personal trips and paying for his daughter’s wedding reception. They demanded access to church records and asked the court to remove Sutton as officer and director of the church.
Sutton and others denied the allegations and said the church members had no right to sue just because they didn’t like the way the church spent their offerings.
In her ruling, Chancellor Claudia Bonnyman said the court lacked the jurisdiction to be involved, but the members were entitled to see more financial documents.