Oklahoma Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church v. Timmons

Summary

The Oklahoma Supreme Court held that the doctrine of church autonomy bars subject‑matter jurisdiction over the dispute because it requires interpretation of the United Methodist Book of Discipline, and therefore granted the writs of mandamus and prohibition and remanded with instructions to dismiss. The Court overruled its prior decision in Doe that treated church autonomy as an affirmative defense, reaffirming it as a jurisdictional bar. The decision emphasizes that courts may not interpret ecclesiastical documents, even when property is at issue, and that the district court lacked authority to issue the injunction.