Judge Dismisses Most Claims Against Seattle Pacific University (SPU)

A Washington State Superior Court judge threw out most of the claims against the Seattle Pacific University Board of Trustees brought by students and faculty who argued that the board breached its fiduciary duty by maintaining a policy that bars hiring openly gay faculty and staff members at the Free Methodist Church–affiliated college, Religion News Service reported.  The judge found that the plaintiffs have no standing to sue the board for upholding the hiring policy, which has been the subject of protests, lawsuits and an investigation by Washington State’s attorney general. However, Judge Andrea Darvas ruled last week that a fraud claim against interim president Pete Menjares and trustee Matthew Whitehead could proceed.