82 So. 435 | Ala. | 1919
This litigation arose out of factious differences between the members of Concord Missionary Baptist Church in Cullman county. The purpose and prayer of the bill are stated in Manning v. Yeager,
1. We find from the evidence noted in the record that before, at, and after the division in the church, defendants constituted a majority of the membership. This court has had occasion in several cases to state, as from the temporal viewpoint, the nature of the constitution and government of Baptist churches. We may repeat to this extent: Each Baptist church is within itself a pure democracy; it is the right of the majority to rule; the will of the majority having been expressed, it becomes the minority to submit; church action is final. Gewin v. Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church,
2. But the court, in the exercise of its equity jurisdiction, will intervene to prevent the diversion of church property from the use to which it has been devoted. Morgan v. Gabard,
Our judgment is that the trial court committed no error in dismissing complainants' bill.
Affirmed.
ANDERSON, C. J., and McCLELLAN and GARDNER, JJ., concur.