IN RE: MUNGER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH (2022)

OPINION

Relators’ July 6, 2021 petition for writ of mandamus challenges the trial court's denial of relators’ plea to the jurisdiction. Relators argue that real party lacked standing to bring suit and that the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine barred the trial court from exercising subject-matter jurisdiction over the claims asserted therein. Real party's claims of breach of fiduciary duty, conversion, fraud by non-disclosure, theft of property, conspiracy, and certain declaratory relief all relate to real party's allegations that relator Pastor Wade Davis made unauthorized withdrawals and personal use of Church funds and that relator Pamela Ward assisted Davis in doing so.

Entitlement to mandamus relief requires relators to show that the trial court clearly abused its discretion and that they lack an adequate appellate remedy. In re Prudential Ins. Co., 148 S.W.3d 124, 135–36 (Tex. 2004) (orig. proceeding). However, where the petition for writ of mandamus challenges the trial court's subject matter jurisdiction over the underlying proceeding, relators need not establish the lack of an adequate appellate remedy. In re Episcopal School of Dallas, Inc., 556 S.W.3d 347, 360 (Tex. App.—Dallas, 2017 orig. proceeding) (challenging denial of plea to the jurisdiction).

Based on our review of relators’ petition and record, and real party's response and supplemental record, we conclude relators have failed to demonstrate that the trial court clearly abused its discretion in denying relators’ plea to the jurisdiction. Accordingly, we deny the petition for writ of mandamus. See Tex. R. App. P. 52.8(a).

Opinion by Justice Molberg