A judge has sided with Second Baptist Church of Houston, dismissing nearly every claim filed against it by a group of congregants.
The legal battle arose from a dispute regarding the church’s governance, particularly long-time Senior Pastor Ed Young’s decision to appoint his son, Ben Young, as successor of the historic Texas megachurch without taking up a congregational vote.
The decision came after, some congregants allege, church leaders surreptitiously presented changes to the church’s bylaws to shield Ben Young’s appointment from opposition. The church business meeting where the changes were voted upon was publicized, but only briefly, and the meeting was scheduled on Memorial Day weekend.
The lawsuit was filed by Jeremiah Counsel Corporation, a nonprofit organization whose “purpose is to promote, develop, and restore integrity, accountable governance and donor protection for churches.”
The lawsuit claims that staff members were instructed about how to vote on the bylaw changes and that a majority of the members did not understand that the vote meant an end to their ability to vote on church-related matters in the future until the changes had already taken effect.
At the time, Second Baptist said that the changes were meant to “protect our ability to continue operating as a biblical church.”
In a ruling this week, a judge indicated that the court was not able to determine whether that was a fair characterization without trying to determine what “biblical church” means.
The court also did not vacate Ed Young’s decision to install Ben Young as the church’s senior pastor.
In a statement published to Second Baptist’s website, Ben Young said, “We received word that the judge has ruled in our favor in the matter before the court and we are deeply grateful.”
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“We remain committed to the work God has called us to through this, His church,” said Young. “God is doing remarkable things this summer as we seek to Worship Christ, Walk with Christ, and Win Others to Christ through the power of the gospel.”