ecclesiastical exception
The "ecclesiastical exception," also known as the "ministerial exception," is a legal doctrine that exempts religious institutions from antidiscrimination laws with regard to their employment relationships with ministers.
Additional Information
With a foundation in the First Amendment's protections of the practice of religion, the ministerial exception is an affirmative defense in the event that a religious institution is sued by one of its employees who qualifies as a "minister."
Synonyms
ministerial exception
