Virginia Supreme Court Denies Rehearing in McLean Bible Church Lawsuit

The Virginia Supreme Court has declined a request from McLean Bible Church to rehear a legal challenge brought by a group of longtime members. The court’s decision upholds a previous ruling from the Court of Appeals, which remanded the case to the Fairfax County Circuit Court to determine the merits of the plaintiffs' arguments. The lawsuit stems from a 2021 elder election, with plaintiffs alleging that church leadership violated the congregation's constitution during the process.

Representing the plaintiffs, attorney Rick Boyer stated that the legal team is preparing discovery requests to proceed in the circuit court. Meanwhile, Pastor Wade Burnett expressed disappointment with the ruling, arguing that it fails to provide the church with the same religious protections typically afforded to denominational institutions. Church leadership maintains that the litigation is driven by a small group seeking to change the church's direction. While pursuing a final dismissal of the case, church representatives stated they remain committed to seeking peace and reconciliation without compromising their core convictions.