Samoan Congregational Christian Church in the United States v. Samoan Congregational Christian Church of Oceanside

The Samoan Congregational Christian Church in the United States, plaintiff, brought this action to impress a trust upon and to forfeit all assets of defendant Samoan Congregational Christian Church of Oceanside, a California nonprofit religious corporation. The complaint alleges the defendant church (Samoan Oceanside Church) had “illegally” attempted to oust its minister, the Reverend Talani Fuimaono, from his post and install another, the Reverend Talo Poumele, in his stead. These acts were in opposition to its general assembly, the supreme authority within the plaintiff organization. The Samoan Oceanside Church relies upon its corporate status, its articles of incorporation and bylaws to justify its position.

Upon trial without jury, the court concluded that all matters of an ecclesiastical nature, including the appointment or removal of a minister, were under the jurisdiction of the ruling elders of the church in Samoa, acting through its general assembly, the supreme authority in the United States; however, the ownership, control, possession and use of the assets of the Samoan. Oceanside Church as a nonprofit religious corporation were vested in its board of…