This book examines the current law on the employment status of ministers of religion and suggests reforms for ministers to be given a degree of employment protection. It considers the constant theme in Christian history that the clergy should not be subject to the ordinary courts and asks if this is justified with the growth of employment law.

John Duddington is a member of the Centre for Law and Religion, Cardiff University, UK, and editor of Law and Justice, the Christian Law Review. He was formerly Head of the Law School at Worcester College of Technology and is now a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Worcester.

Acknowledgements

Preface

PART 1

Who are the clergy and religious workers and who is their employer?

1 Volunteers

2 Religious workers

3 The clergy as ministers of religion

PART 2

The status of ministers of religion in employment law

4 Employment status of the clergy: A comparative perspective

5 How can the employment relationship between a member of the clergy and their religious body be analysed?

6 The legal status of the clergy under employment law as employees and workers

PART 3

The perspectives from church-state relations and from the churches themselves and a possible way forward

7 The autonomy of religious bodies

8 The perspectives of the churches on the legal status of the clergy

9 A solution?: Potential reforms to achieve a degree of employment protection for clergy and other religious workers

General Index

Table of Cases

Table of Statutes