Kim v. True Church Members etc.
Annotate this CaseThis case stems from a dispute over control of certain church property. Appellants and other members of the Cho/Shin faction, with the WCP as a co-plaintiff, filed suit seeking declaratory relief, an injunction, and an audit and accounting from Rev. Bang and respondents. Bang and respondents filed a cross-complaint claiming trespass and intentional interference with prospective economic advantage, and seeking declaratory relief against appellants and the WCP as cross-defendants. On appeal, appellants contend that, contrary to the trial court's ruling: (1) there was no internal dispute permitting the WCP to intervene and assert control in 2013; (2) because any remaining dispute did not involve Church Property, court intervention into matters of Church membership was improper; (3) the WCP’s actions were a legal nullity because appellants’ secession vote complied with applicable procedures; and (4) the WCP lacked authority to excommunicate appellants because it violated its own procedures by acting in the absence of a petition. The court concluded that none of these contentions meet appellants' burden of demonstrating reversible error. Accordingly, the court affirmed the trial court's judgment in favor of respondents.
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.