Appellate Division, First Department · November 12, 2026 · 2026 NY Slip Op 06576
Matter of McGruder v Abyssinian Baptist Church in the City of N.Y., Inc.
Read the official decision: 2026 NY Slip Op 06576
Holding The court affirmed the dismissal of a petition to set aside a pastoral election, finding that the church bylaws required election by a majority of votes cast rather than all eligible members. The court further held that the petitioners’ allegations of irregularities were conclusory and failed to demonstrate fraud or a substantial likelihood that the election outcome was affected.
The court’s words
Article VII, § 1 is properly read as requiring election by a majority of votes cast at such a meeting
2026 NY Slip Op 06576, at the official text
None of the affidavits submitted by petitioners demonstrate that any member altered their voting behavior based on the alleged conduct
2026 NY Slip Op 06576, at the official text
| Court | Appellate Division, First Department |
|---|---|
| Decided | November 12, 2026 |
| Citation | 2026 NY Slip Op 06576 |
| Area of law | Corporate, Securities and Business |
| Week | Week ending November 14, 2026 |
| Official text | Official decision: 2026 NY Slip Op 06576 |
| Publication status | Slip opinions are uncorrected and subject to revision before publication in the Official Reports. |
| Source feed | New York slip opinion page |
| Law Watch record id | 1881 |
Recommended citation
ESQ HQ, New York Law Watch, Matter of McGruder v Abyssinian Baptist Church in the City of N.Y., Inc., 2026 NY Slip Op 06576 (Appellate Division, First Department, November 12, 2026), https://esqhq.com/decisions/2026-ny-slip-op-06576/
How this record was made
Holding drafted by Law Watch’s in-house model, graded by three reviewers; every quotation verified word for word against the official text.
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