NEW YORK (NY)
Harlem World Magazine [New York NY]
December 29, 2025
A New York State Supreme Court judge has ruled in favor of Harlem’s historic Abyssinian Baptist Church and its senior pastor, the Rev. Kevin R. Johnson, bringing an end to a yearlong legal battle that challenged the validity of his election.
In a decision issued Dec. 22, Judge James G. Clynes denied a lawsuit filed by four current and former church members who sought to nullify Johnson’s 2024 election and bar him from future consideration as senior pastor. The ruling affirms Johnson’s position as the duly elected leader of one of the nation’s most prominent Black churches, ReligionNews.com reported.
Johnson succeeded the late Rev. Calvin O. Butts III, who led Abyssinian for five decades before his death in 2022. Johnson was formally installed in September 2024 following an election held June 21–23 of that year.
The plaintiffs — Kevin McGruder, Jasmine McFarlane-White, Clarence E. Ball III, and Rev. C. Vernon Mason Sr. — argued that the election violated church bylaws because fewer than half of eligible members participated. Approximately 44% of registered members voted. The group contended that the bylaws required a majority of all eligible members, not simply a majority of votes cast.
Judge Clynes rejected that interpretation. In his ruling, he stated that the bylaws’ reference to a “majority vote of the members in good standing who are eligible to vote” clearly meant a majority of those who actually voted. Any other reading, he wrote, would be unreasonable. The judge also found no evidence of fraud or wrongdoing in the election process and dismissed the petition as a matter of law.
Abyssinian Baptist Church welcomed the decision, calling it a confirmation of the congregation’s will. In a memo to members, church leaders said the ruling validated the integrity of the election and signaled a moment to move forward under Johnson’s leadership.
The plaintiffs, however, expressed disappointment and said they remain committed to what they describe as integrity and reform within the church. In a statement posted on a GoFundMe page supporting their legal efforts, they indicated they are consulting with counsel to determine next steps.
The case is the latest in a series of legal challenges surrounding Abyssinian’s pastoral transition. In a separate matter, Rev. Eboni Marshall Turman, a former assistant minister and candidate for the senior pastor role, filed a gender discrimination lawsuit in 2023. That case was dismissed earlier this year after a federal judge ruled in favor of the church under the ministerial exception doctrine.
Judge Clynes acknowledged that courts are generally cautious about intervening in church governance but noted that civil courts may review whether a religious institution followed its own bylaws when the issue can be resolved without delving into doctrine. In this instance, he concluded, Abyssinian Baptist Church acted in accordance with its governing rules.
The ruling solidifies Johnson’s leadership as the church looks ahead after a period of internal division and legal uncertainty.