Ecclesia de Lange v. The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa
South Africa Supreme Court
(726/13) [2014] ZASCA 151 (2014)

- Written by Kelly Simon, JD
Facts
Ecclesia de Lange (plaintiff) was an ordained minister of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa (the church) (defendant) who announced her marriage to her same-sex partner. After her announcement, the church suspended de Lange and discontinued her credentials as a minister. De Lange referred her suspension to arbitration. While the arbitration was ongoing, de Lange brought a lawsuit against the church asking that the arbitration agreement with the church be set aside and that the church’s decision to suspend her be declared as unconstitutional discrimination based on her sexual orientation. The trial court dismissed de Lange’s petition because the arbitration was ongoing. De Lange appealed to the South Africa Supreme Court.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Ponnan, J.)
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