African Methodist Episcopal Church v. Jenkins

The African Methodist Episcopal Church of Bridgeport and its nine trustees brought this action against the Reverend J. J. Jenkins and the African Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States. The plaintiffs sought a judgment declaring that the defendant church has no rights in the property of the plaintiff church and enjoining both defendants from interfering with its activities. In addition to their answer and special defense, the defendants filed a cross complaint requesting an injunction to restrain the plaintiffs not only from molesting the defendant Jenkins in exercising the functions of pastor of the plaintiff church but also from using the property as an independent church, free from the control, supervision and jurisdiction of the defendant church. The court rendered judgment for the plaintiffs on the complaint and cross complaint, and from that judgment the defendants have appealed.