The Virginia Court of Appeals ruled on May 19 that Gaskins v. McLean Bible Church should return to Fairfax County Circuit Court, reversing an earlier dismissal and granting plaintiffs the right to pursue discovery. The decision marks the latest development in a conflict that has shadowed Pastor David Platt’s tenure at the influential Washington‑area megachurch.
What the Court Said
Judge Frank K. Friedman wrote that the lower court erred when it denied the plaintiffs’ motion to compel discovery—blocking access to membership lists, board minutes, and explanations for reclassifying members. Those documents, he said, are central to the plaintiffs’ breach‑of‑contract claims.
One line from the ruling captures the court’s skepticism toward the church’s argument that courts must avoid internal governance matters: “This Court, and all other courts in Virginia, are surely able to count to eight without entering a ‘religious thicket.’”
The plaintiffs allege that McLean Bible Church improperly removed members from voting eligibility by claiming they had missed “eight consecutive worship services without reasonable excuse”—a standard they say was impossible to measure coming out of pandemic shutdowns. They argue the rule was used selectively to “steal the election” by excluding dissenting voters.
How the Dispute Began
The conflict stems from a contested 2021 elder election in which a large number of members were forced to cast provisional ballots. Even with those restrictions, the elder slate failed to reach the required 75 percent threshold. The same candidates were later re‑nominated, and the board eliminated secret ballots—after which they were approved. Opponents then filed suit.
In 2023, the church amended its constitution to give the board greater control over elder elections.
Why It Matters
McLean Bible Church has argued that secular courts should not intervene in internal church matters. But Judge Friedman warned that allowing churches to claim blanket immunity “could swallow the neutral‑principles doctrine and present a great potential for abuse by religious entities endeavoring to shield their malfeasant employees from any secular ramifications.”
The ruling signals that courts may scrutinize church governance when disputes hinge on neutral, non‑doctrinal issues such as contract enforcement and voting procedures.
Context: Platt’s Turbulent Tenure
The renewed legal fight comes amid broader controversy surrounding Pastor David Platt’s leadership. A 2024 documentary, The Real David Platt: The Hijacking of McLean Bible Church, featured former elders and members alleging financial opacity, leadership manipulation, and ideological conflict within the congregation.
Platt, a bestselling author and former president of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, has denied wrongdoing.
What Happens Next
The case now returns to Fairfax County Circuit Court, where plaintiffs will be permitted to obtain documents and testimony they say are essential to proving that church leaders violated McLean’s constitution and disenfranchised members.
The ruling ensures that the dispute—already five years old—will continue to unfold in civil court rather than being dismissed as an internal religious matter.
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