John Michael and Janice Hill Brannon - Page 10




                                       - 10 -                                         

          such as Baptism, Holy Communion, and marriage.  Petitioners agree           
          that petitioner performed these services during 1983 and 1984,              
          but they argue that as a local pastor petitioner was authorized             
          to do so only as long as his license was in effect, and only                
          within the boundaries of his charge.  We recognize that                     
          petitioner's authority as a licensed local pastor was limited by            
          the duration of his license and the designated charge to which it           
          applied.  Nevertheless, subject to those limitations, during 1983           
          and 1984, he presided over the ministration of sacerdotal                   
          functions and therefore for those years acted in a manner                   
          consistent with the "performance of service by a duly ordained,             
          commissioned, or licensed minister" within the meaning of section           
          1402.                                                                       
               Petitioners do not dispute that as a licensed local pastor             
          petitioner conducted religious worship during 1983 and 1984.                
               Petitioners point out that a licensed local pastor is                  
          considered a lay person who has no "voice or vote" on official              
          matters of the Church.  Consequently, they argue that during 1983           
          and 1984, petitioner could not, and did not, "serve in the                  
          control, conduct and maintenance" of the Church.  Implicit in               
          petitioners' argument is the suggestion that petitioner's service           
          is measured in the context of the Church as a governing                     
          organization.  We rejected a similar argument advanced by the               







Page:  Previous  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  Next

Last modified: May 25, 2011