Affirm in part; Reverse and Render in part; Opinion Filed February 1, 2018
In The Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas No. 05-16-01171-CV
EVELYN KELLY, Appellant/Cross-Appellee V. ST. LUKE COMMUNITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, HENRY MASTERS, IN HIS OFFICIAL AND INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, AND BERNICE WASHINGTON, IN HER OFFICIAL AND INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, Appellees/Cross-Appellants
On Appeal from the 95th Judicial District Court Dallas County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. DC-14-00985
MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Justices Lang, Brown, and Whitehill Opinion by Justice Lang
Appellant Evelyn Kelly filed this lawsuit against her former employer, St. Luke
Community United Methodist Church (“the church”), and two persons affiliated with the church,
Pastor Henry Masters and Bernice Washington, (collectively, “appellees”) based on
circumstances related to the termination of her employment. Kelly’s claims against appellees
included defamation, negligence, fraud, misrepresentation, and age and sex discrimination.
Appellees filed a plea to the jurisdiction respecting all of Kelly’s claims and, alternatively, a
motion for summary judgment as to those claims. The trial court overruled appellees’ plea to the
jurisdiction and granted their motion for summary judgment. Both sides appeal from that ruling. In six issues on appeal, Kelly challenges the trial court’s summary judgment as to each of
her claims and complains of the lack of a ruling by the trial court on her motion to strike
appellees’ summary judgment evidence. On cross-appeal, appellees assert the trial court erred by
denying their plea to the jurisdiction based on the doctrines of “ecclesiastical abstention” and
“ministerial exception.”
We decide in favor of appellees as to the applicability of the ecclesiastical abstention
doctrine to all of Kelly’s claims except the portion of her defamation claim respecting statements
allegedly published to persons outside the church. Further, we decide against Kelly as to the trial
court’s granting of summary judgment on that portion of her defamation claim. We (1) reverse,
in part, the trial court’s denial of appellees’ plea to the jurisdiction; (2) render judgment granting,
in part, the plea to the jurisdiction, dismissing the respective claims as to which that plea is
granted, and vacating the trial court’s summary judgment as to those claims; and (3) affirm the
portion of the trial court’s order denying the remainder of plea to the jurisdiction and granting
summary judgment in favor of appellees as to the portion of Kelly’s defamation claim respecting
statements allegedly published to persons outside the church.
I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL CONTEXT
In her live petition at the time of the trial court’s challenged order, Kelly stated she was
employed as “Director of Operations” at the church for twelve years prior to her “termination”
from that position on approximately February 1, 2013. According to Kelly, the circumstances of
her “termination” were as follows: (1) in July 2012, Masters became the church’s senior pastor;
(2) on December 10, 2012, which was the day before Kelly began a scheduled medical leave, she
requested a meeting with Masters to discuss his “treatment of her” and explained to Masters that
“his tone and the manner in which he treated her suggested that he had a problem with her”; (3)
at that meeting, Masters “assured Kelly that he did not have a problem with her”; (4) after that
–2– date, Masters “communicated to staff members that Kelly ‘sure made a lot of money’”; (5)
although Kelly’s salary “had prior approval in the 4th quarter of 2012,” during the time Kelly
was out on leave, Masters “discussed with the Lay Leader . . . about reducing Kelly’s salary by
$20,000” and “rewriting [Kelly’s] job description”; (6) in January 2013, Masters hired additional
employees to work for the church without conducting “the requisite background checks”; (7)
while Kelly was out on medical leave, Masters called her to request information on “getting
[those] employees paid” and Kelly “questioned how Masters needed payment on individuals who
were not approved to work” in accordance with church policies; (8) Kelly returned to work on
January 19, 2013; (9) on January 31, 2013, Masters “had an emergency meeting” with the
church’s “Staff Pastor Parish Relations Committee” (“SPPRC”), of which Washington is the
chair, to “discuss [Kelly’s] termination”; (10) during that meeting, “it was communicated to
committee members and regular laypersons that a Dallas police officer was needed to escort
Kelly off the premises during the termination process, because Kelly was ‘volatile’”; (11) on
February 1, 2013, Kelly was given a letter from the church stating the church had “decided to
undergo a major reorganization” and her position was being “eliminated effective February 12,
2013”; (12) Kelly was escorted by Washington and a “uniformed Dallas police officer” to
retrieve items from her office at the church and “[t]his act . . . was witnessed by other employees,
and lay persons alike”; (13) “Kelly’s dismissal” was announced to the congregation at the
February 3, 2013 church service and was “announced in the church bulletin for distribution to
congregation members and visitors”; (14) “her position was not eliminated; rather within twenty-
four hours of her dismissal, the position was advertised in the [c]hurch’s weekly newsletter”; and
(15) in May 2013, “a new employee was hired and assumed substantially all of Kelly’s duties.”
In her defamation claim, Kelly asserted Masters and Washington (1) “made defamatory
oral statements which were defamation per se, as the statements referenced imputation of a crime
–3– and injury to a [sic] Kelly’s business and professional reputation” and (2) “published a statement
of fact regarding Kelly and the need for an escort through the church by a uniformed Dallas
police officer, the statements referred to by Masters and Washington were false [sic].” In her
negligence claim, Kelly asserted the church’s actions were negligent because the church “owed
Kelly a duty of care to follow church policy” and “breached that duty when there was a variation
of church policies.” In her fraud and misrepresentation claims, Kelly contended (1) the church,
by and through its agents, “made material misrepresentations” that the church “knew to be false”
regarding “the elimination of her position,” or “made the statements recklessly without any
knowledge of its [sic] truth”; (2) “the representations were made with the intention that they
should be acted on by Kelly”; and (3) the church “provided information in the course of business
that was false” and “did not exercise reasonable care or competence in obtaining or
communicating the information.” Further, in her claim for “sex and age discrimination,” Kelly
alleged (1) she was “wrongfully discharged for discriminatory reasons”; (2) “there was no
legitimate business justification for her termination because she had always performed
satisfactory work”; (3) she was “treated differently based on her sex and age in connection with
her compensation, terms, conditions, and privileges of employment”; (4) “[a]fter an unsuccessful
attempt to reduce Kelly’s salary, Masters misrepresented that a reorganization was imminent—
terminating Kelly while hiring additional staff”; (5) “another employee was hired who assumed
substantially all of Kelly’s former duties”; and (6) “Kelly was qualified to perform the ‘new’ job
but was never considered.”
Appellees filed a general denial answer. Additionally, they filed a combined plea to the
jurisdiction and, in the alternative, motion for summary judgment respecting all of Kelly’s
claims. In their plea to the jurisdiction, appellees stated in part (1) the church is “part of the
North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church”; (2) “[t]he decision to eliminate Ms.
–4– Kelly’s position was based upon [the church’s] need to reorganize [its] internal structure related
to programming and staff”; (3) the “reorganization” was based upon two issues: “the
development of a new mission/vision” for the church that included “the incorporation of a
programmatic structure” based on “the Nurture, Outreach, and Witness (N.O.W.) design, one of
the foundational tenets of the United Methodist Church,” and “the potential reduction of costs
and expenses including possible personnel reductions based upon the new mission/vision”; and
(4) as a result of the “reorganization,” “[Kelly’s] position was eliminated, a [c]hurch
administrator position was established and a part-time Director of Evangelism position was
created.” Specifically, appellees contended the trial court “lacks subject matter jurisdiction over
all of Plaintiff’s claims pursuant to the Ecclesiastical Abstention Doctrine” because “her claims
involve matters of church administration and theology which both the U.S. Supreme Court and
the Texas Supreme Court have held should not be adjudicated by courts.”
In their motion for summary judgment, appellees asserted in part they are entitled to
summary judgment on Kelly’s claims because they “can disprove some if not all of the essential
elements of Ms. Kelly’s theories of recovery.” In support of that assertion, appellees cited Texas
Rule of Civil Procedure 166a(c). See TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(c). Further, in the portion of their
motion for summary judgment respecting Kelly’s defamation claim, appellees stated that to
prevail on such claim, a plaintiff must establish, among other elements, that the defendant
“published” a statement of fact that was defamatory and false. Appellees contended in part that
summary judgment is proper on Kelly’s defamation claim because Kelly has “no evidence”
respecting the “publication” of the complained-of statements described above to “any third
person outside of the Church.”
The attachments to appellees’ plea to the jurisdiction/motion for summary judgment
included, in part, (1) excerpts from a deposition of Kelly in which she testified that within
–5– twenty-four hours following her dismissal, the church announced in its newsletter that candidates
were being sought for two positions, a full-time “church administrator” and a part-time “director
of evangelism”; the responsibilities respecting the new position of “church administrator”
appeared to her to be the same as the responsibilities for her previous job as “director of
operations”; and although no one at the church told her she could not apply for the new “church
administrator” position, she did not apply for that position; (2) an affidavit of Sharon Larkin in
which Larkin testified that at the time of Kelly’s release from employment by the church, Kelly’s
salary was $82,000, and in May 2013, Larkin was hired as “church administrator” of the church
at a salary of $50,000; (3) an affidavit of Washington in which she testified in part, “On February
12, 2013, the members of the SPPRC met to discuss various issues. . . . During the meeting, I
explained that during the January 31, 2013 meeting some SPPRC members stated Ms. Kelly was
‘volatile.’ I reported this statement during the closed session of the SPPRC. . . .”; (4) excerpts
from a deposition of Washington in which she testified in part that “SPPRC minutes are
approved by the SPPRC, and then they are presented to the church”; (5) meeting minutes from
the January 31, 2013 SPPRC meeting that stated in part, “Process for handling employee
dismissal: •Various members discussed various ways that dismissal have been handled • It was
also suggested that security be present and that the meeting be held with the door open”; (6)
meeting minutes from a February 5, 2013 church council meeting that stated in part, “Pastor
discussed the recent action taken by the [SPPRC] to eliminate the Director of Operations
position. . . . Comments were made that the [SPPRC] did meet to discuss this matter but the
specifics that were discussed. [sic] They could not be shared at this meeting because they are
private and they cannot be discussed”; and (7) meeting minutes from the February 12, 2013
meeting of the SPPRC that stated in part, “Washington—a lot of concerns centered around
having a police escort Kelley [sic] to her office. 1. How we decided on security was based on
–6– input from SPPRC members who indicated Evelyn was volatile. 2. Our regular security team was
not available. 3. [A staff member] knew a police officer on duty in the area and contacted him.
He was available for an hour and came to the church.”
Kelly filed (1) responses to appellees’ plea to the jurisdiction and motion for summary
judgment and (2) a motion to strike certain portions of appellees’ summary judgment evidence.
In her response to the plea to the jurisdiction, Kelly asserted in part that the ecclesiastical
abstention doctrine (1) constitutes an affirmative defense that was not “properly pled” by
appellees and (2) is also inapplicable because “[Kelly’s] termination was not in connection with
the church’s ecclesiastical disciplinary process,” “[Kelly’s] claims do not involve theological
controversy, but rather a civil simply [sic] a civil law controversy in which church officials
happen to be involved,” “[Kelly’s] claims of slander, are not inextricably intertwined with
theological controversy of her performance,” and “the substance of [Kelly’s] suit does not relate
to internal matters of church governance and discipline.”
Further, in her response to the motion for summary judgment, Kelly asserted in part,
“The false statements in question-allege [sic] that Kelly was volatile, and needed a police
presence to be removed from the church.” Kelly contended she “satisfied the second prong of her
prima facie case of defamation—publication” by showing four “publications” of defamatory
statements by Masters and Washington: (1) “[t]he posting of the January 31, 2013 [SPPRC
meeting] minutes was the first publication of the defamatory remarks against Kelly”; (2) “[n]ext,
in the February 5, 2013 Church Council meeting, the details surrounding Evelyn Kelly’s position
and subsequent termination were also discussed in intricate detail” in a “public forum”; (3) “[t]he
February 12, 2013 [SPPRC] meeting put the details of Evelyn Kelly’s termination on display”;
and (4) “the posting of the meeting notes [of the February 12, 2013 SPPRC meeting] was the
fourth publication.” Also, Kelly contended (1) when Masters “announced to the staff on
–7– February 1, 2013, that Ms. Kelly needed a police escort to be removed from the premises,”
“Masters’ omission of the facts from the staff that Evelyn Kelly had not done anything
criminally wrong, or had not committed a crime, or done something bad . . . distorted the
viewer’s perception—essentially creating a substantially false impression of the event,” and (2)
“according to [Pastor Michael Greene], at least 100 people were present in [the February 5, 2013
church council meeting], some members some non-members—nonetheless Reverend Masters
and Bernice Washington allowed for a detailed account of Ms. Kelly’s personnel matters and
termination to be the focal point of the Church Council.”
An appendix attached to Kelly’s response to appellees’ motion for summary judgment
contained a declaration of Kelly in which she stated in part,
4. It is well understood at St[.] Luke that personnel matters are not handled publicly. Those matters are left to the Personnel Committee. As a matter of course, the personnel committee would require individuals leave who should not be involved in personnel matters. That did not occur in my case, not only was my issues privy to all the staff, the details of my termination was discussed in Church Council on February 5, 2013 and February 12, 2013. a [sic] true and correct copy of those minutes are attached hereto . . . . .... 17. During [the January 31, 2013 SPPRC meeting], it was communicated to committee members and regular laypersons that a Dallas police officer was needed to assist with my termination and escort me to my office and away from the church property the termination process [sic], reasoning that I was “volatile.” See attached, a true and correct copy of the minutes from the January 31, 2013 minutes, the Feb 5, 2013 and February 12, 2013, Church Council Minutes, which were posted and published to the entire church body. .... 20. Defendant Bernice Washington and the Dallas Police Officer escorted me to my office to get my belongings, as I walked to my office with the armed police officer next to me[,] employees witnessed this encounter . . . . .... 24. . . . I’ve been actively seeking employment, however, with these statements of me being volatile and having been escorted out of the church have [sic] adversely impacted me—these statements which are false, has brought injury to my personal and professional reputation. The statements were used to impeach my honesty, integrity, virtue, and reputation.
–8– (citations to record omitted).1
Additionally, that appendix included, among other things, meeting minutes from each of
the meetings described above and excerpts from deposition testimony of Washington and church
staff member Pastor Michael Greene. The excerpts from Washington’s deposition included her
testimony that (1) after the February 1, 2013 meeting at which Kelly was told her position was
eliminated, Washington and Kelly walked with a police officer through the church to Kelly’s
office, a distance of “probably 30 yards, 40 yards”; (2) as they walked that distance through the
church, Washington saw some church employees; (3) approximately 60 or 70 people attended
the February 5, 2013 church council meeting; (4) church council meetings are not limited to
church members and “any interested party” can attend; (5) at the February 5, 2013 church
council meeting, “[t]he reorganization was discussed” and “Kelly’s name was used when
[Washington] discussed her being escorted off the premises”; (6) the only people present at the
February 12, 2013 SPPRC meeting were “the individuals who were part of the SPPRC”; (7)
copies of the minutes of SPPRC meetings are given to SPPRC members and “to the church”; and
(8) “anybody in the church can look at [SPPRC] minutes.” The excerpts from Greene’s
deposition included the following portions of his testimony in response to questions from Kelly’s
counsel:
Q. How many members were in the [February 5, 2013] Church Council meeting, if you recall?
A. Probably at least 100. .... Q. . . . So we have about 100—were these church members or employees?
A. Yeah, church members.
1 Although Kelly’s declaration and her arguments in the trial court and on appeal describe a February 12, 2013 “church council” meeting, the record shows the February 12, 2013 meeting described by her was a meeting of the SPPRC. There is no evidence in the record of a church council meeting on February 12, 2013.
–9– Q. Church members and employees?
A. Yeah.
Q. Okay. So it’s open to the public?
A. It’s open to all church members, yeah.
Q. Okay. So in this church meeting, questions were raised regarding the police to escort Evelyn Kelly off the premises?
A. Yes. .... Q. Was there an explanation given why the police was called?
A. The only explanation I remember is, you know, this is the way they do it in corporate.
Further, the meeting minutes from the February 5, 2013 church council meeting included the
following statement respecting the elimination of Kelly’s position: “Comments were made that
the [SPPRC] did meet to discuss this matter but the specifics that were discussed . . . could not be
shared at this meeting because they are private and cannot be discussed.”
Appellees filed a reply to Kelly’s response in which they asserted in part that their plea to
the jurisdiction based on the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine “is a jurisdictional bar, not an
affirmative defense.” Further, appellees argued summary judgment on Kelly’s defamation claim
is proper because (1) Kelly “has presented no substantiated evidence” to support her claim;
(2) “Washington’s only use of the word ‘volatile’ was to report to the [SPPRC] what another
member had stated in a previous meeting”; (3) Kelly “produced no evidence that the term
‘volatile’ was used during the [February 5, 2013] Church Council meeting”; and (4) “[Kelly]
failed to present any evidence that the minutes from the SPPRC meetings dated January 31, or
February 12, 2013, or minutes from the February 5, 2013 Church Council meeting were ‘actually
published and posted’ on St. Luke’s website or were given to members of the congregation or
third parties.”
–10– Following a hearing, the trial court signed an order in which it ruled as described above
and stated, “All other relief sought by any party is DENIED.” (emphasis original). This appeal
timely followed.
II. PLEA TO THE JURISDICTION
Because appellees’ cross-issue involves jurisdiction, we address that cross-issue first. See
Vines-Herrin Custom Homes, LLC v. Great Am. Lloyds Ins. Co., 357 S.W.3d 166, 170 (Tex.
App.—Dallas 2011, pet. denied).
A. Standard of Review
A plea to the jurisdiction challenges the trial court’s authority to determine the subject
matter of a cause of action. Jennison v. Prasifka, 391 S.W.3d 660, 664 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2013,
no pet.) (citing Bland Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Blue, 34 S.W.3d 547, 554 (Tex. 2000)). We review a
trial court’s ruling on a plea questioning the trial court’s subject-matter jurisdiction de novo.
Westbrook v. Penley, 231 S.W.3d 389, 394 (Tex. 2007). When a plea to the jurisdiction
challenges the pleadings, we determine if the pleader has alleged facts that affirmatively
demonstrate the court’s jurisdiction to hear the cause. Tex. Dep’t of Parks & Wildlife v. Miranda,
133 S.W.3d 217, 226 (Tex. 2004). We construe the pleadings liberally in favor of the plaintiff
and look to the pleader’s intent. Id.; see Westbrook, 231 S.W.3d at 405 (facts pled are to be taken
as true where plea to jurisdiction challenges plaintiff’s pleadings). “[I]f the pleadings
affirmatively demonstrate an incurable jurisdictional defect, then the plea to the jurisdiction must
be granted and repleading is not allowed.” Westbrook, 231 S.W.3d at 394.
A trial court properly dismisses those claims over which it does not have subject matter
jurisdiction, but retains claims in the same case over which it has jurisdiction. See Thomas v.
Long, 207 S.W.3d 334, 338–39 (Tex. 2006); see also Heckman v. Williamson Cty., 369 S.W.3d
137, 152–53 (Tex. 2012) (“[A] plaintiff must demonstrate that the court has jurisdiction over . . .
–11– each of his claims; the court must dismiss those claims (and only those claims) over which it
lacks jurisdiction.”).
B. Applicable Law
The ecclesiastical abstention doctrine arises from the Free Exercise Clause of the First
Amendment to the United States Constitution, which is applicable to the states through the
Fourteenth Amendment. See U.S. CONST. amend. I (“Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . . .”); Masterson v. Diocese of
Nw. Tex., 422 S.W.3d 594, 601 (Tex. 2013); Jennison, 391 S.W.3d at 664. Government action
can burden the free exercise of religion in one of two ways: by interfering with an individual’s
observance or practice of a particular faith or by encroaching on the church’s ability to manage
its internal affairs. Jennison, 391 S.W.3d at 664. “The ecclesiastical abstention doctrine stands
for the proposition that the First Amendment prohibits civil courts from exercising jurisdiction
over matters concerning theological controversy, church discipline, ecclesiastical government, or
the conformity of the members of a church to the standard of morals required of them.” Id. at
665; accord Masterson, 422 S.W.3d at 605–06 (“Courts do not have jurisdiction to decide
questions of an ecclesiastical or inherently religious nature, so as to those questions they must
defer to decisions of appropriate ecclesiastical decision makers”); see also Westbrook, 231
S.W.3d at 394 (“Lack of jurisdiction may be raised by a plea to the jurisdiction when religious-
liberty grounds form the basis of the jurisdictional challenge.”).
“To determine whether the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine applies or, conversely,
whether subject-matter jurisdiction exists, ‘courts must look to the substance and effect of a
plaintiff’s complaint to determine its ecclesiastical implication, not its emblemata.’” Jennison,
391 S.W.3d at 665 (quoting Westbrook, 231 S.W.3d at 405) “Even though the elements of a
common law tort such as defamation, may be defined by secular principles without regard to
–12– religion, it does not necessarily follow that application of those principles to impose civil tort
liability would not run afoul of protections the constitution affords to a church’s right to construe
and administer church doctrine.” Id. at 665–66. “Churches have a fundamental right to decide for
themselves, free from state interference, matters of church government as well as those of faith
and doctrine.” Westbrook, 231 S.W.3d at 397. The Texas Supreme Court has applied the
ecclesiastical abstention doctrine to tort claims brought by a church member against other church
members who were not in authority positions, see Pleasant Glade Assembly of God v. Schubert,
264 S.W.3d 1, 12 (Tex. 2008) (concluding court lacked jurisdiction to consider church member’s
assault claims against other church members), and in the context of a claim brought by a church
member against her counselor and pastor for statements made in connection with the church’s
ecclesiastical disciplinary process, see Westbrook, 231 S.W.3d at 404–05 (church member’s
claim was properly dismissed where publication about which church member complained was
made in course of church disciplinary process and communicated by pastor to congregation
pursuant to requirements of that process).
C. Application of Law to Facts
In their cross-issue on appeal, appellees assert in part the trial court lacked subject matter
jurisdiction over all of Kelly’s claims pursuant to the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine because
“all of the complained of actions made by [Masters] or [Washington] were made as part of a
matter that involved ‘theological controversy,’ ‘church discipline,’ and/or ‘ecclesiatical
government.’” Specifically, according to appellees,
[T]he discussion regarding Plaintiff’s termination, the use of the term “volatile” during a SPPRC Committee meeting and the subsequent announcements and publication of the elimination of the [position held by Kelly] were all components of St. Luke’s ability to manage its internal affairs and church discipline. Pursuant to the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, St. Luke has the right to manage its own affairs, including revising its approach to delivery of ministerial services, eliminating a staff position and informing its membership when a position has been eliminated from the church’s organization. –13– .... St. Luke contends that as a church, it has the power to determine within its religious boundaries how it will establish its organizational structure and dispense its ministries and programs without interference from the courts. Since Plaintiff’s claims of negligence, sex and age discrimination, fraud, misrepresentation and defamation are all based upon the Church’s decision to redirect its ministerial emphasis, they must be dismissed based upon the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine.
Further, appellees argue in part, “If this Court interferes with [Masters’] attempts to improve the
financial position of St. Luke via redistributing finances to accommodate new church goals, this
Court will in essence substitute its judgment for that of an ecclesiastical entity in violation of the
above-stated principles.”
Kelly responds that the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine is inapplicable because her
claims “do not involve matters of church administration, church governance or any manner [sic]
of theology.” Additionally, Kelly asserts in part (1) the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine
“provides a broader analysis that encompasses the ‘ministerial exception’”; (2) “[m]ore
narrowly, if the claim challenges a religious institution’s employment decision, the sole
jurisdictional inquiry is whether the employee is a member of the clergy or otherwise serves a
‘ministerial’ function”; (3) “[i]f the employee is a minister, then the ‘ministerial exception’
applies, preventing secular review of the employment decision without further question as to
whether the claims are ecclesiastical in nature”; and (4) “[t]he glaring fundamental cracks in
[appellees’] argument, are that they failed to allege sufficient facts to support a finding that Ms.
Kelly’s position was ‘ministerial.’” (emphasis original).
In their reply brief respecting their cross-appeal, appellees assert in part that Kelly’s
contention that this case “involves only the ministerial exception” is incorrect. Specifically,
according to appellees,
[T]he record reflects the reason for the elimination of the position held by Ms. Kelly was to effectuate a new missional emphasis. This clearly falls squarely within the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine because it implicates the church’s –14– right to manage its own internal affairs and determine how to effectuate its ministry. Thus Ms. Kelly’s response that the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine does not apply is simply incorrect.
Under the “ministerial exception” doctrine, “if an employee is a minister, courts are
precluded from reviewing the employment decision regardless of whether the claims are
ecclesiastical in nature.” Shannon v. Mem’l Drive Presbyterian Church U.S., 476 S.W.3d 612,
625 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2015, pet. denied); see also Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical
Lutheran Church & Sch. v. E.E.O.C., 565 U.S. 171, 195 n.4 (2012) (concluding ministerial
exception “operates as an affirmative defense to an otherwise cognizable claim, not a
jurisdictional bar”). To the extent Kelly contends that in cases involving a religious institution’s
employment decision, the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine is precluded by the “ministerial
exception,” Kelly cites no authority to support that position and we have found none. Further, at
least one court of appeals has considered the applicability of the ecclesiastical abstention
doctrine before considering the ministerial exception in a case involving the dismissal of a
church employee. See Shannon, 476 S.W.3d at 621–25 (considering and rejecting applicability of
ecclesiastical abstention doctrine before considering applicability of ministerial exception in case
involving church’s dismissal of elementary ministries director). In the case before us, we begin
our analysis by considering the applicability of the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine. See id.
As described above, we construe Kelly’s petition liberally in her favor, look to her intent,
and take the pleaded facts as true. See Miranda, 133 S.W.3d at 226; Westbrook, 231 S.W.3d at
405. With respect to her defamation claim, Kelly pleaded in part (1) “it was communicated to
committee members and regular laypersons that a Dallas police officer was needed to escort
Kelly off the premises during the termination process, because Kelly was ‘volatile,’” and (2) the
act of Kelly being escorted by Washington and a “uniformed Dallas police officer” to retrieve
items from her office at the church “was witnessed by other employees, and lay persons alike.”
–15– “Laity” is generally defined as “the great body of the people of a religious faith as distinguished
from its clergy.” See Laity, WEBSTER’S THIRD NEW INT’L DICTIONARY (1981). Based on that
definition and a liberal reading of Kelly’s petition, we construe the petition to include not only
allegations of defamation based on statements to church membership and staff, but also
allegations of defamation based on (1) communication by appellees to persons outside the church
that “a Dallas police officer was needed to escort Kelly off the premises during the termination
process, because Kelly was ‘volatile’” and (2) the witnessing of that act by persons outside the
church.
Kelly’s petition shows that with the exception of the portion of her defamation claim in
which she asserts she was defamed by the alleged publication of the statements described above
to persons outside the church, all of her claims are based on actions and communications within
the church pertaining to internal governance of the church and involving only church leadership,
members, and staff. See Jennison, 391 S.W.3d at 668 (citing Patton v. Jones, 212 S.W.3d 541,
555 n.12 (Tex. App.—Austin 2006, pet. denied) (distinguishing between alleged defamatory
remarks published to members of church community and remarks to others outside church
community in applying ecclesiastical abstention doctrine)). In other words, the substance of
Kelly’s claims for negligence, fraud, misrepresentation, age and sex discrimination, and
defamatory statements published within the church community relates to internal matters of
church governance and each of those claims is “inextricably intertwined” with those internal
matters. See id. While the elements of those claims can be ascertained using secular principles,
the application of those principles to impose civil liability on appellees would impinge upon the
church’s ability to manage its internal affairs. See id.
On this record, we conclude the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine applies to all of Kelly’s
claims other than the portion of her defamation claim in which she asserts she was defamed by
–16– the alleged publication of the statements described above to persons outside the church. See id.
Further, we conclude the trial court erred by not dismissing the claims described above as to
which the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine applies. See Masterson, 422 S.W.3d at 605–06;
Westbrook, 231 S.W.3d at 394.
We decide in favor of appellees on the portion of their cross-issue respecting the
applicability of the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine to all of Kelly’s claims except the portion of
her defamation claim in which she asserts she was defamed by the alleged publication of the
statements described above to persons outside the church.
III. SUMMARY JUDGMENT
We review a trial court’s grant of summary judgment de novo. KCM Fin. LLC v.
Bradshaw, 457 S.W.3d 70, 79 (Tex. 2015). We must “review the evidence presented by the
motion and response in the light most favorable to the party against whom the summary
judgment was rendered, crediting evidence favorable to that party if reasonable jurors could, and
disregarding contrary evidence unless reasonable jurors could not.” Boerjan v. Rodriguez, 436
S.W.3d 307, 311–12 (Tex. 2014) (citing Timpte Indus., Inc. v. Gish, 286 S.W.3d 306, 310 (Tex.
2009)); see also City of Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802, 824 (Tex. 2005). When, as here, a
trial court’s order granting summary judgment does not specify the ground or grounds relied on
for its ruling, we must affirm summary judgment if any of the grounds advanced is meritorious.
Carr v. Brasher, 776 S.W.2d 567, 569 (Tex. 1989).
No-evidence and traditional grounds for summary judgment may be combined in a single
motion. Coleman v. Prospere, 510 S.W.3d 516, 518 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2014, no pet.). “A court
should determine the standard of proof on a summary judgment motion after considering the
substance of the motion, rather than categorizing the motion strictly by its form or title.” Tex.
–17– Integrated Conveyor Sys., Inc. v. Innovative Conveyor Concepts, Inc., 300 S.W.3d 348, 375
(Tex. App.—Dallas 2009, pet. denied). When a party files both a no-evidence and a traditional
motion for summary judgment, we first consider the no-evidence motion. Ford Motor Co. v.
Ridgway, 135 S.W.3d 598, 600 (Tex. 2004).
To prevail on a traditional motion for summary judgment, the movant bears the burden of
proving that no genuine issue of material fact exists and that he is entitled to judgment as a
matter of law. TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(c); Mann Frankfort Stein & Lipp Advisors, Inc. v. Fielding,
289 S.W.3d 844, 848 (Tex. 2009).
In a no-evidence summary judgment motion, the movant contends that no evidence
supports one or more essential elements of a claim for which the nonmovant would bear the
burden of proof at trial. TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(i). The trial court must grant the motion unless the
nonmovant raises a genuine issue of material fact on each challenged element. KCM Fin., 457
S.W.3d at 79. No-evidence summary judgment is proper if the nonmovant fails to bring forward
“more than a scintilla of probative evidence” as to an essential element for which the movant
contends no evidence exists. Boerjan, 436 S.W.3d at 312 (citing Smith v. O’Donnell, 288 S.W.3d
417, 424 (Tex. 2009)).
“Defamation’s elements include (1) the publication of a false statement of fact to a third
party, (2) that was defamatory concerning the plaintiff, (3) with the requisite degree of fault, and
(4) damages, in some cases.” In re Lipsky, 460 S.W.3d 579, 593 (Tex. 2015). “Publication” of
defamatory words means to “communicate the words . . . to a third person capable of
understanding their defamatory import and in such a way that the third person would
understand.” Double Diamond, Inc. v. Van Tyne, 109 S.W.3d 848, 854 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2003,
–18– no pet.); accord Ramos v. Henry C. Beck Co., 711 S.W.2d 331, 335 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1986, no
writ).
In her first issue, Kelly asserts the trial court erred by granting appellees’ motion for
summary judgment as to her defamation claim. In light of our conclusions above, we address
only the portion of that issue respecting Kelly’s assertions that she was defamed by (1)
statements of appellees to persons outside the church that “a Dallas police officer was needed to
escort Kelly off the premises during the termination process, because Kelly was ‘volatile,’” and
(2) the witnessing of that act by persons outside the church.
In her brief in this Court, Kelly contends in part that she “proved Masters and
Washington’s statements were published” based on the following:
Washington’s testimony affirms that the notes and minutes from the SPPRC meeting are made public for all members because they are posted or otherwise published to which many people had access. The posting of the January 31, 2013, minutes was the first publication of the defamatory remarks against Kelly. Next, in the February 5, 2013, Church Council meeting, the details surrounding Evelyn Kelly’s position and subsequent termination were also discussed in intricate detail. . . .[T]he Church Council meetings are for St. Luke members and open to any other person—members or otherwise who want to attend. In Washington’s deposition, she testified that for the February 5, 2013 meeting, approximately, 60–70 people were present, Pastor Green testified there were approximately 100 people present. Notwithstanding this public forum, the detailed issues surrounding Kelly’s termination were discussed, including her being escorted by a uniformed police officer. . . . The February 12, 2013, meeting put the details of Evelyn Kelly’s termination on display. Details that should have been confidential or for HR use only. The minutes of this meeting were also posted for the congregation . . . . . . . The February 12, 2013, meeting was the third publication, and the posting of the meeting notes was the fourth publication.
–19– (citations to record omitted). In support of those arguments, Kelly cites portions of the evidence
described above, including the minutes of the January 31, February 5, and February 12 meetings;
deposition testimony of Washington and Greene; and Kelly’s declaration.2
Appellees respond (1) “all [Kelly] has submitted . . . is that others within the Church
learned about her being escorted from the premises and as a consequence she was ‘defamed,’”;
(2) “the word ‘volatile’ was only used during two SPPRC meetings on January 31, 2013, and
February 12, 2013”; (3) “[Kelly’s] contention that the word ‘volatile’ was used during the
February 5, 2013 Church Council Meeting is not true” and “the citations provided by [Kelly] do
not establish this assertion”; and (4) Kelly “has no substantiated proof of the publication of the
January 31, 2013 or February 12, 2013 minutes” to any “third person outside the Church.”
In her reply brief in this Court, Kelly argues in part: (1) appellees “fail to address [that]
the minutes of the SPPRC meetings were part of the church council meeting on February 5,
2013, and February 12, 2013, where the details surrounding Evelyn Kelly’s position and
subsequent termination including the police escort were also discussed in intricate detail . . .
before St. Luke members and . . . anyone else who wanted to attend”; (2) although appellees
“seem to assert that the burden shifts to Ms. Kelly to show who all obtained a copy of the
minutes,” Kelly “has the burden to show the defamatory statements were published, and this is
shown by Washington’s own testimony” that the SPPRC meeting minutes are “given to the
church”; (3) “[i]n Washington’s deposition, she testified that for the February 5, 2013 meeting,
approximately, 60–70 people were present, [and] Pastor Green testified there were
approximately 100 people present”; and (4) “[n]otwithstanding this public forum, the detailed
2 As described above, Kelly complains on appeal as to the lack of a ruling in the trial court on her motion to strike appellees’ summary judgment evidence. Kelly does not provide any argument or authority in support of that position in her appellate briefing or otherwise address or mention that complaint. Further, the record shows the trial court’s order in question stated in part, “All other relief sought by any party is DENIED.” (emphasis original). We conclude Kelly’s complaint respecting the lack of a ruling on her motion to strike appellees’ summary judgment evidence presents nothing for this Court’s review. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 38.1(i).
–20– issues surrounding Kelly’s termination were discussed [at the February 5, 2013 Church Council
meeting].”
As a threshold matter, we first address whether appellees’ summary judgment motion is
in substance a traditional motion for summary judgment, a no-evidence motion for summary
judgment, or both. See Tex. Integrated, 300 S.W.3d at 375. Although appellees cited the standard
for traditional summary judgment in that motion, we “determine the standard of proof on a
summary judgment motion after considering the substance of the motion, rather than
categorizing the motion strictly by its form or title.” Id. The record shows that, in substance,
appellees argued in their summary judgment motion (1) they are entitled to summary judgment
on Kelly’s claims because they “can disprove some if not all of the essential elements of Ms.
Kelly’s theories of recovery” and (2) summary judgment is proper on Kelly’s defamation claim
because Kelly has “no evidence” respecting the “publication” of the complained-of statements
described above to “any third person outside of the Church.” On this record, we conclude
appellees’ motion for summary judgment respecting Kelly’s defamation claim was, in part, a no-
evidence motion for summary judgment. See id. Accordingly, we begin our review by applying
the standards applicable to no-evidence motions. See Boerjan, 436 S.W.3d at 312.
The record shows the word “volatile” appears once in the meeting minutes of the
February 12, 2013 SPPRC meeting described above and Washington stated in her affidavit that
she used that word at that meeting. The word “volatile” does not appear in the meeting minutes
of any other meetings described above, including the February 5, 2013 church council meeting,
which is the only church council meeting described or addressed by the parties. Further, (1) the
parties do not dispute that SPPRC meetings are “for the committee members only”; (2) nothing
in the record shows any SPPRC meeting minutes were made available to or obtained by persons
outside the church community; and (3) Kelly cites no evidence in the record, and we have found
–21– none, describing use of the word “volatile” at the February 5, 2013 church council meeting or
demonstrating, as she asserts, that SPPRC meeting minutes were “part of” the February 5, 2013
church council meeting. Also, although Washington testified that “any interested party” can
attend church council meetings, Greene stated as follows respecting the February 5, 2013 church
council meeting:
Q. How many members were in the [February 5, 2013] Church Council meeting, if you recall?
A. Probably at least 100. .... Q. . . . So we have about 100—were these church members or employees?
Q. Church members and employees?
Additionally, as to the witnessing of Kelly being escorted by a police officer, Washington
testified in part (1) after the February 1, 2013 meeting at which Kelly was told her position was
eliminated, Washington and Kelly walked with a police officer through the church to Kelly’s
office, a distance of “probably 30 yards, 40 yards,” and (2) as they walked that distance through
the church, Washington saw some church employees. Kelly cites no evidence, and we have
found none, that any person outside the church community witnessed her being escorted by a
police officer to retrieve items from her office.
On this record, we conclude Kelly has not met her burden to bring forward “more than a
scintilla of probative evidence” as to the challenged element of “publication” respecting the
portion of her defamation claim in which she asserts she was defamed by (1) statements of
appellees to persons outside the church that “a Dallas police officer was needed to escort Kelly –22– off the premises during the termination process, because Kelly was ‘volatile,’” and (2) the
witnessing of that act by persons outside the church. See Boerjan, 436 S.W.3d at 312. Therefore,
the trial court did not err by granting appellees’ motion for summary judgment as to that portion
of Kelly’s defamation claim. See KCM Fin., 457 S.W.3d at 79. We decide against Kelly on the
portion of her first issue respecting that portion of her claim.
IV. CONCLUSION
We decide in favor of appellees on the portion of their cross-issue respecting the
applicability of the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine to all of Kelly’s claims except the portion of
her defamation claim in which she asserts she was defamed by (1) communication by appellees
to persons outside the church that “a Dallas police officer was needed to escort Kelly off the
premises during the termination process, because Kelly was ‘volatile,’” and (2) the witnessing of
that act by persons outside the church. Further, as to that remaining portion of Kelly’s
defamation claim, we conclude the trial court did not err by granting summary judgment in favor
of appellees.
We (1) reverse the trial court’s denial of appellees’ plea to the jurisdiction as to all of
Kelly’s claims except the portion of her defamation claim in which she asserts she was defamed
by communication by appellees to persons outside the church that “a Dallas police officer was
needed to escort Kelly off the premises during the termination process, because Kelly was
‘volatile,’” and the witnessing of that act by persons outside the church; (2) render judgment
granting the plea to the jurisdiction respecting the claims described above as to which the denial
of the plea to the jurisdiction is reversed, dismissing those claims, and vacating the trial court’s
summary judgment as to those claims; and (3) affirm the portions of the trial court’s order
pertaining to the denial of appellees’ plea to the jurisdiction as to the portion of Kelly’s
defamation claim respecting the statements described above allegedly published to persons
–23– outside the church and the granting of summary judgment in favor of appellees as to that portion
of Kelly’s defamation claim.
/Douglas S. Lang/ DOUGLAS S. LANG JUSTICE
161171F.P05
–24– Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas JUDGMENT
EVELYN KELLY, Appellant/Cross- On Appeal from the 95th Judicial District Appellee Court, Dallas County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. DC-14-00985. No. 05-16-01171-CV V. Opinion delivered by Justice Lang, Justices Brown and Whitehill participating. ST. LUKE UNITED METHODIST COMMUNITY CHURCH, HENRY MASTERS, IN HIS OFFICIAL AND INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, AND BERNICE WASHINGTON, IN HER OFFICIAL AND INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, Appellees/Cross-Appellants
In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, we (1) REVERSE the trial court’s denial of appellees/cross-appellants’ plea to the jurisdiction as to all of appellant/cross-appellee Evelyn Kelly’s claims except the portion of her defamation claim in which she asserts she was defamed by communication by appellees/cross-appellants to persons outside St. Luke United Methodist Community Church that “a Dallas police officer was needed to escort Kelly off the premises during the termination process, because Kelly was ‘volatile,’” and the witnessing of that act by persons outside the church; (2) RENDER judgment granting appellees/cross- appellants’ plea to the jurisdiction respecting the claims described above as to which the denial of the plea to the jurisdiction is reversed, dismissing those claims, and vacating the trial court’s summary judgment as to those claims; and (3) AFFIRM the portions of the trial court’s order pertaining to the denial of appellees/cross-appellants’ plea to the jurisdiction as to the portion of Kelly’s defamation claim respecting the statements described above allegedly published to persons outside the church and the granting of summary judgment in favor of appellees/cross- appellants as to that portion of Kelly’s defamation claim.
It is ORDERED that appellees/cross-appellants St. Luke United Methodist Community Church, Henry Masters, in his official and individual capacity, and Bernice Washington, in her official and individual capacity, recover their costs of this appeal from appellant/cross-appellee Evelyn Kelly.
Judgment entered this 1st day of February, 2018. –25–