ÿWPC† ¡„tÓÛÀܺÃYNÃ2â³mF ´‚ÿÕsÅ|Æ3>y:QDbø „q£&:‡úÃü¯ÛKÚ¬qÍO6¶”?ÌR‚;Ðëú@ ⇽g`¢¬.és‡²“ÿ‹$ƒWñh]&zîx1l¸AWfäQ@±:µ3\/‹Ýÿ5®»U—ˆ±QÝ-9k÷¼Žp™C’*Î몛ŽË¤­Å1u²2‰&®F,Fú) BŸÅ¬dÔ½5†œS|7ßÙö›E‰'¬Lríù¶U×îoS¶Ì‰ãÝ´b \eÙŸ{Ÿ¶š`-zíŒÂjZÝ6»´Q¢‡ÂCÀXiŽ˜5¥Ýþ‹©4NA.ýØ}308W˜=X#—£V“žµÏy¸Ä´H6ž4šzBra{St éÇ*1ûqÙ3üºÔ £• Nz¯K-Øä&²lˆìèU°ïE¼ßõ§å¼ÿë8ö˜Hò«\R}´˜-7&ÌUYTòew.”ôe+¿ïq5 ޼v‘' °pî?¢^D 0lD 0ö° x¦ ^ w*4.BQqSÂÄ(›¤É$¡¡ÔUSUS.,ÔÓK€ (€X°KÓÔ€ X&×XXXÔÔ€ X&×XXX&×Ô ƒÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ˜HP OfficeJet K Series0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\WEB\WP9WEB.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\Web\wp9web.wpt)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx(ÖÃ9 Z‹&Times New RomanC:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\POPLAR.GIF pC:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\POPLAR.GIFC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\template\Custom WP Templates\poplar.gif© Àξo54eÈñ©K#4eÈñ©,LѾJ¬?Àξ\R¬?Àξ¬ôØüÓ¾úO¬?× pª€Yˆ|ξ<A_ÔÕ׬ôØÐÕ×ÐÕ×ÐÕ× :Ý ƒ…o%ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÓK€ (€XààKÓÔ€ X!ÞXXXÔÔ€ X!ÞXX X!ÞÔÚ  Ú1Ú  Ú.Ý  ÝÔ_Ô€A€schism€has€been€said€to€be€a€division€"on€account€of€some€doctrinal€difference€of€opinion€with€regardÐ ¼¼ Ðto€matters€of€faith€or€discipline€or€the€offense€of€causing€or€seeking€to€cause€such€a€division."€ProtestantÐ ¨ ¨  ÐReformed€Church€v.€Ô_ÔTempelmanÔ_Ô,€81€N.W.2d€839,€844€(Minn.€1957).€(.M)$‘‘ÔÿÔòòòò(Ú  Ú1Ú  Ú)óóóóÔÿÔ(·3…o$¥¥Ý ƒ¤É!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÓK€ (€X°KÓÔ€ X!ÞXXXÔÔ€ X!ÞXX X!ÞÔÝ  ÝÚ  Ú1Ú  Ú. nÝ ƒ…o%ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÓK€ (€XH#H#KÓÔ€ X!ÞXXXÔÔ€ X!ÞXX X!ÞÔÚ  Ú2Ú  Ú.Ý  ÝÔ_Ô€At€the€instigation€of€the€Church's€administration,€Rev.€Vi€was€secured€the€status€of€"Pastor"€from€theÐ $$$$ ÐChurch€in€Tonga.€By€letter€dated€24€May€1982€under€letterhead€of€the€Methodist€Church€in€Tonga,€andÐ %% Ðintended€for€appropriate€government€agencies€in€Samoa,€Rev.€Vi€was€introduced€as€"promoted€to€be€aÐ ü%ü% ÐPastor€and€now€he€is€to€take€care€of€the€Tongan€Church€at€Ô_ÔTafunaÔ_Ô€until€further€notice."€As€such,€Rev.€ViÐ è&è& Ðwas€apparently€accepted€by€immigration€officials€as€eligible€for€immigration€sponsorship€by€the€local€bodyÐ Ô'Ô' Ðcorporate.MMo,L —+ingHB«3|x gÝ ƒ…o%ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÓK€ (€Xt*t*KÓÔ€ X!ÞXXXÔÔ€ X!ÞXX X!ÞÔÚ  Ú3Ú  Ú.Ý  ÝÔ_Ô€If€plaintiffs€are€seeking€judicial€review€of€the€electoral€process€undertaken€by€the€Church,€such€isÐ P+P+ Ðbeyond€the€jurisdiction€of€the€civil€courts€which€is€strictly€confined€to€temporal€issues,€civil€or€propertyÐ <,<, Ðrights.€The€involvement€of€the€Court€with€issues€purely€in€the€nature€of€ecclesiastical€government€wouldÐ (-(- Ðbe€without€regard€to€the€constitutional€line€demarcating€church€and€state.€The€First€Amendment'sÐ .. Ðinterdiction€against€the€involvement€of€the€civil€courts€with€underlying€controversies€over€religiousÐ // Ðdoctrine€was€noted€by€the€Supreme€Court€in€Serbian€Eastern€Orthodox€Diocese€v.€Ô_ÔMilivojevichÔ_Ô,€426€U.S.Ð ì/ì/ Ð696,€710€(1976)€as€applying€ð ðwith€equal€force€to€church€disputes€over€church€polity€and€churchÐ Ø0Ø0 Ðadministration.ðð ¸Ð x3x3 ? ÐÝ ƒ…o%ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÓK€ (€XKÓÔ€ X!ÞXXXÔÔ€ X!ÞXX X!ÞÔÚ  Ú4Ú  Ú.Ý  ÝÔ_Ô€Where€there€is€a€split€in€the€nature€of€a€"schism,"€the€majority€vote,€in€the€congregational€context,€is€notÐ ÜÜ Ðnecessarily€determinative€with€regard€to€disputes€concerning€title€to€property.€The€civil€courts,€applyingÐ ÈÈ Ðneutral€principles€of€law,€have€Ô_ÔrecurringlyÔ_Ô€sustained€the€property€claims€made€on€behalf€of€the€church€byÐ ´´ Ðthe€membership€adhering€to€the€tenets€of€faith€as€hitherto€practiced€regardless€of€whether€that€membershipÐ    Ðhappens€to€be€in€the€minority.€It€is€not€in€the€majority's€power€to€take€for€themselves€such€property€toÐ ŒŒ Ðsupport€new€and€conflicting€doctrines.€The€reasoning€is€that€property€dedicated€by€way€of€trust€to€aÐ xx Ðparticular€charitable€purpose€came€within€the€civil€court's€duty€to€ensure€that€property€so€dedicated€wasÐ dd Ðnot€diverted€from€the€trust€which€is€thus€attached€to€its€use.€This€equitable€doctrine€as€to€charities€wasÐ PP Ðseen€as€equally€applicable€to€ecclesiastical€matters.€Watson€v.€Jones,€supra.€As€we€noted€at€the€outset,€theÐ << Ðmatter€before€is€not€a€case€involving€a€schism.€Ý ƒ¤É!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÓK€ (€XKÓÔ€ X!ÞXXXÔÔ€ X!ÞXX X!ÞÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÓ  Óò òÔ_ÔFUNAKIÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔOFAÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔMANASEÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔKATOAÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔTOGINOAÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔLAGOIAÔ_Ô,€Ð ÜÜ ÐÔ_ÔVILIAMUÔ_Ô€PRESCOTT,€Ô_ÔMASINAÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔOFAÔ_Ô,€STONE€Ô_ÔTAKUTALAMIÔ_Ô,€Ð ÈÈ ÐÔ_ÔTOPULUKAÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔTUAMOHELOAÔ_Ô,€AMELIA€P.€Ô_ÔSIALEÔ_Ô,€Ð ´´ ÐÔ_ÔSIONEÔ_Ô€L.€Ô_ÔSIALEÔ_Ô,€et€al.€,€Plaintiffs€ó óÐ    Ðò òv.€ó óÐ hh Ðò òTONGAN€WESLEYAN€CHURCH€OF€AMERICAN€SAMOA€Ð 00 Ðand€Ô_ÔNETANEÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔTUIPULOTUÔ_Ô€VI,€Defendants€ó óÐ  Ðò òHigh€Court€of€American€Samoa€Ð ä ä  ÐTrial€Division€ó óÐ Ð Ð  Ðò òCA€No.€13-88€ó óÐ ˜ ˜  Ðò òSeptember€29,€1988€ó óÐ ``  Ðò ò__________ó óÐ ((  ÐÓ  Óò òOne€who€has€dealt€with€a€church€as€a€corporate€entity€and€has€participated€in€church€affairs€for€aÐ ðð  Ðperiod€of€years€is€Ô_ÔestoppedÔ_Ô€from€questioning€the€validity€of€the€church's€incorporation.€ó óÐ ÜÜ  Ðò òValidity€of€a€de€jure€or€de€facto€corporation€may€not€be€collaterally€attacked€in€a€proceedingÐ ¤¤ Ðbrought€to€determine€title€to€property€held€by€the€corporation.€ó óÐ  Ðò òOne€who€voluntarily€joins€a€religious€society€or€church€impliedly€consents€to€the€form€ofÐ XX Ðgovernment€that€has€been€adopted€by€the€church.€ó óÐ DD Ðò òFirst€amendment€prohibits€court€from€assuming€jurisdiction€to€review€church€electoral€processes€orÐ    Ðother€disputes€concerning€church€policy€and€church€administration.€U.S.€Const.€amend.€1.€ó óÐ øø Ðò òCongregational€church€government€is€vested€in€the€congregation,€and€in€a€case€that€does€notÐ ÀÀ Ðinvolve€a€"schism'.€a€majority€vote€of€the€membership€is€determinative.€ó óÐ ¬¬ Ðò òUnconditional€gifts€are€irrevocable€after€delivery,€so€that€one€who€has€made€an€unconditionalÐ tt Ðdonation€of€funds€to€a€church€may€not€demand€repayment.€ó óÐ ` `  ÐBefore€Ô_ÔKRUSEÔ_Ô,€Associate€Justice,€Ô_ÔLUALEMAGAÔ_Ô,€Associate€Judge,€and€Ô_ÔVAIVAOÔ_Ô,€Associate€Judge.Ð ("(" Ðò ò[8ASR2d111]ó óÐ ## ÐCounsel:€For€Plaintiffs,€Ô_ÔAsauaÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔFuimaonoÔ_ԀРÜ$Ü$ Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€For€Defendants,€Charles€Ô_ÔAla'ilimaÔ_ԀРÈ%È% Ѐ€€€€The€plaintiffs€were€lately€members€of€the€defendant€Tongan€Wesleyan€Church€of€American€Samoa,Ð '' Ðhereinafter€the€"Church.€"€They€have€recently€separated€from€the€Church€and€have€filed€suit€essentiallyÐ |(|( Ðseeking€a€liquidated€share€of€the€Church's€assets€accumulated€to€date€to€aid€in€their€setting€up€anotherÐ h)h) Ðreligious€institution€to€be€administered€more€to€their€own€liking.€The€evidence€does€not€disclose€aÐ T*T* Ð"schism,"€as€the€term€is€used€in€ecclesiastical€circles;×ƒÝ ¤×Ý ƒM)ÝÔÿÔòòòò(Ú  Ú1Ú  Ú)óóóóÔÿÔÝ  Ý×Ý 0×€rather,€the€falling€out€is€attributable€to€matters€moreÐ @+@+  Ðin€the€nature€of€the€mundane€and€temporal€order€---fiscal€policy.€The€disaffection€is€deeply€seated,€yet€theÐ ,,,,! Ðroots€of€the€quarrel€---investment€of€Church€funds€in€additional€reality€versus€investment€of€those€funds€inÐ --" Ða€bus€---belies€its€resultant€prominence.€Ð ..# Ѐ€€€€FACTUAL€BACKGROUND€Ð Ì/Ì/$ Ѐ€€€€With€emerging€immigration€to€the€territory,€a€number€of€Tongan€nationals€had,€by€the€year€1976,Ð ”1”1% Ðbecome€resident€in€the€Western€District.€This€in€turn€gave€rise€to€the€common€desire€to€worship€and€gatherÐ €2€2& Ðas€a€community.€The€early€beginnings€of€organized€religious€gathering€arose€in€Le€Ô_ÔPuapuaÔ_Ô,€Leone.€A€smallÐ ÜÜ Ðgrouping€of€Tongan€households€then€began€assembling€in€borrowed€housing€for€worship€in€their€nativeÐ ÈÈ Ðtongue€employing€the€teachings,€customs,€and€usages€as€established€by€the€Methodist€Church€in€Tonga,Ð ´´ Ðhereinafter€the€"Church€in€Tonga."€Ð    Ѐ€€€€Among€those€early€organizers€were€plaintiffs€Ô_ÔFunakiÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔOfaÔ_Ô€and€Ô_ÔManaseÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔKatoaÔ_Ô€and€defendant€Rev.€Ô_ÔNetaneÔ_ÔÐ hh ÐÔ_ÔTuipulotuÔ_Ô€Vi,€who€also€conducted€the€religious€services.€(At€that€time,€Rev.€Vi€was€a€recognized€"layÐ TT Ðpreacher"€having€completed€certain€theological€schooling€under€the€auspices€of€the€ò ò[8ASR2d112]ó ó€ChurchÐ @@ Ðin€Tonga.€He€had,€however,€yet€to€be€fully€credentialed€as€a€Pastor.)€Ð 00 Ѐ€€€€At€the€outset€there€were€no€written€articles€of€association€nor€rules€governing€the€assembledÐ ø ø  Ðmembership,€however,€all€were€familiar€with€the€organizational€traditions€of€the€Church€in€Tonga.€TheÐ ä ä  Ðaffairs€of€the€early€assemblies€were€conducted€accordingly:€they€held€regular€meetings€of€an€organizationalÐ Ð Ð  Ðnature;€they€conducted€elections€of€officers;€and€established€books€of€accounts.€In€the€course€thereof,Ð ¼ ¼  Ðplaintiff€Ô_ÔFunakiÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔOfaÔ_Ô€featured€from€the€onset€in€the€administration€of€the€Church.€He€was€repeatedly€electedÐ ¨ ¨  Ðto€the€lay€leadership€position,€a€post€second€only€to€the€Pastor€following€the€hierarchical€traditionsÐ ””  Ðestablished€in€Tonga.€Ð €€ Ѐ€€€€The€need€for€a€more€permanent€location€for€worship€was€soon€realized€and€the€membership€set€aboutÐ HH Ðto€raise€funds.€The€event€which€proved€popular€was€the€Tongan€fund€raising€social,€kava€dances.€ThisÐ 44 Ðinvolved€invitations€to€the€Tongan€community€at€large€to€share€kava€with€the€fund€raisers.€It€is€customaryÐ    Ðand€anticipated€at€these€functions€that€individual€families€or€other€appropriate€groupings€would€performÐ    Ðdance€items€which€in€turn€attracted€monetary€donations€from€the€audience.€Donation€totals€for€each€Ô_ÔiÔ_Ô€temÐ øø Ðwould€be€made€known€and€accordingly€the€dance€groups€would€compete€spiritedly€for€Ô_ÔdonativeÔ_Ô€favor€asÐ ää Ðwell€as€for€some€nominal€prize€at€the€conclusion.€Ð ÐÐ Ѐ€€€€In€the€year€1980,€sufficient€funds€had€been€raised€to€buy€a€plot€of€land€in€Ô_ÔTafunaÔ_Ô.€A€deed€was€executedÐ ˜˜ Ðand€delivered€by€the€grantor€to€a€nominated€"trustee€for€The€Tongan€Wesleyan€Church€in€AmericanÐ „„ ÐSamoa."€€In€time€a€chapel€and€attendant€buildings€were€erected€on€the€land.€Ð pp Ѐ€€€€Shortly€after€the€land€purchase,€some€questions€arose€regarding€the€Church's€status€as€a€cognizableÐ 88 Ðlegal€entity,€and€therefore€its€ability€to€own€land€in€American€Samoa.€The€evidence€went€on€to€show€thatÐ $$ ÐRev.€Vi,€with€the€aid€of€certain€American€Samoan€nationals€who€were€non-church€members,€incorporatedÐ  Ðan€eleemosynary€corporation€pursuant€to€the€laws€of€the€territory.€(Ô_ÔA.S.C.A.Ô_Ô€ðððð€30.0201€et€seq.€)€TheÐ üü Ðcorporation€was€named€the€"Tongan€Wesleyan€Church€in€American€Samoa"€and€the€Articles€ofÐ èè ÐIncorporation€designated€"Ô_ÔTafunaÔ_Ô"€as€the€principal€place€of€business.€The€general€ò ò[8ASR2d113]ó ó€Ð Ô Ô  Ðcorporate€purpose€reads€as€follows:€ð ð...to€preach€the€Gospel€of€the€Blessed€God,€and€to€confirm€andÐ Ä!Ä! Ðstrengthen€the€faith€of€those€called€into€the€fellowship€of€His€Son,€Jesus€Christ,ðð€and€ancillary€to€thisÐ °"°"  Ðgeneral€purpose,€the€Articles€further€empowered€the€corporation€to€acquire€property.€Ð œ#œ#! Ѐ€€€€With€corporate€status,€a€general€meeting€was€soon€thereafter€convened€to€explain€incorporation€to€theÐ d%d%" Ðmembership.€This€included€the€assistance€of€a€Tongan€legal€practitioner€who€was€invited€to€discuss€in€theÐ P&P&# ÐTongan€language€the€desirability€of€incorporation€and€the€requirements€of€corporate€existence.€The€CourtÐ <'<'$ Ðwas€not€presented€with€any€minutes€of€this€meeting,€however€certain€factors€consistent€with€ratificationÐ ((((% Ðwere€borne€out€by€the€testimony.€Firstly,€there€was€no€definite€objection€registered€at€the€meetingÐ ))& Ðregarding€a€change€in€status.€Secondly,€all€subsequent€annual€meetings€have€been€held€pursuant€to€theÐ **' ÐArticles.€Thirdly,€corporate€status€was€invoked€by€the€Church's€administration€to€independently€sponsorÐ ì*ì*( ÐRev.€Vi€as€permitted€by€applicable€immigration€laws.Ô_Ô×ƒÝ Ø×Ý ƒM)ÝÔÿÔòòòò(Ú  Ú2Ú  Ú)óóóóÔÿÔÝ  Ý×Ý d×Ô_ԀРØ+Ø+) Ѐ€€€€The€evidence€also€disclosed€that€from€the€time€of€fund€raising,€Rev.€Vi€took€extended€visits€abroad.Ð  - -* ÐThese€extended€visits€were€in€part€explained€on€the€evidence€as€church€related€business€but€also€in€part€leftÐ Œ.Œ.+ Ðas€unexplained€absences.€Nonetheless,€the€Reverend€would€return€each€time€and€resume€his€office€withoutÐ x/x/, Ðquestion€from€anyone.€This€situation€at€least€existed€until€his€last€return€(after€another€lengthy€absence)€inÐ d0d0- Ðâ âApril,€1986,€where€he€encountered€bitter€dissension€among€his€flock.€ò ò[8ASR2d114]ó ó€Ð P1P1. Ѐ€€€€The€background€to€this€dissension€is€as€follows:€during€Rev.€Vi's€off€island€sojourns,€plaintiff€Ô_ÔFunakiÔ_ÔÐ ÜÜ Ðâ âÔ_ÔOfaÔ_Ô€would,€by€reason€of€his€elected€office,€properly€assume€leadership€of€the€Church's€affairs€includingÐ ÈÈ Ðreligious€services.€The€latter's€experience€with€day€to€day€power€was,€therefore,€correspondingly€extended,Ð ´´ Ðso€much€so€that€in€our€opinion,€Mr.€Ô_ÔOfaÔ_Ô€apparently€lost€sight€of€that€source€of€power.€Early€in€1986€andÐ    Ðprior€to€Rev.€Vi's€last€mentioned€return€to€the€island,€Mr.€Ô_ÔOfaÔ_Ô€had€proposed€to€the€membership€theÐ ŒŒ Ðexpenditure€of€church€funds€to€acquire€some€nearby€land.€The€bank€account€at€the€time€reflected€someÐ xx Ð$39,000€in€savings.€This€proposal€was€first€rejected€at€a€meeting€of€the€officers€called€by€Ô_ÔFunakiÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔOfaÔ_Ô.€AfterÐ dd Ðstrongly€chastising€the€executive€body€for€their€considered€lack€of€foresight,€Mr.€Ô_ÔOfaÔ_Ô€advised€that€heÐ PP Ðwould€put€the€issue€before€the€membership€at€the€next€gathering€for€services.€€In€Mr.€Ô_ÔOfaÔ_Ô's€judgment,€theÐ << Ðinvestment€opportunity€was€too€important€to€be€passed€up.€The€issue€was€put€to€a€vote€and€similarly€theÐ ( (  Ðmembership€turned€down€the€proposal,€favoring€the€alternative€idea€of€investing€in€a€church€bus.€TheÐ    Ðcontinued€refusal€by€the€majority€to€endorse€Mr.€Ô_ÔOfaÔ_Ô's€idea€escalated€to€growing€ill€will€and€theÐ   Ðdevelopment€of€a€distinct€faction€in€support€of€Mr.€Ô_ÔOfaÔ_Ô.€The€remainder€of€the€membership€was€steadfastÐ ì ì  Ðand€was€content€to€await€the€return€of€Rev.€Vi,€the€avowed€leader€of€the€Church,€to€put€an€end€to€theÐ Ø Ø  Ðdissension.€The€setting€for€a€power€struggle€had€thus€emerged.€Ð Ä Ä  Ѐ€€€€Rev.€Vi€upon€his€return€also€found€that€his€leadership€status€was€questioned€by€the€Ô_ÔOfaÔ_Ô€faction€in€theÐ ŒŒ Ðlight€of€the€his€extended€absences.€Indeed€his€sponsorship€status€with€the€immigration€authorities€was€notÐ xx Ðkept€current€by€plaintiff€Ô_ÔOfaÔ_Ô,€who€apparently€attempted€to€have€his€own€name€registered€instead€underÐ dd Ðchurch€sponsorship.€Ð PP Ѐ€€€€The€discontent€finally€reached€the€Church€in€Tonga.€In€a€recorded€audio€message€to€the€membership€inÐ  ÐÔ_ÔTafunaÔ_Ô,€Tonga's€officialdom€recommended€that€both€Rev.€Vi€and€Mr.€Ô_ÔOfaÔ_Ô€step€down€from€furtherÐ  Ðleadership€roles€pending€the€upcoming€annual€elections€in€the€month€of€December.€It€was€also€suggestedÐ ðð Ðthat€in€the€interim€all€further€religious€services€and€other€affairs€of€the€Church,€including€the€conduct€ofÐ ÜÜ Ðelections,€be€placed€in€ò ò[8ASR2d115]ó ó€the€hands€of€a€Rev.€Ô_ÔFangupoÔ_Ô€of€the€Tongan€Methodist€Church€inÐ ÈÈ ÐÔ_ÔFagatogoÔ_Ô.€Ð ¸¸ Ѐ€€€€The€suggestions€from€Tonga€were€apparently€acceptable€to€both€sides€and€lifted€the€focus€of€attentionÐ €€ Ðfrom€continuing€discord€to€the€return€to€Ô_ÔundisruptedÔ_Ô€worship.€Ð ll Ѐ€€€€On€the€appointed€day€for€the€annual€meeting,€the€elections€under€the€supervision€of€Rev.€Ô_ÔFangupoÔ_ÔÐ 44 Ðresoundingly€endorsed€Rev.€Vi's€leadership.€Yet€the€struggle€did€not€end€there.€Subsequent€SundayÐ    Ðservices€were€continuously€disrupted€by€Mr.€Ô_ÔOfaÔ_Ô€and€members€of€his€family.€He€began€complaining€aboutÐ    Ðthe€elections,€accusing€Rev.€Vi€and€his€followers€of€engineering€the€attendance€of€new€faces€on€electionÐ øø Ðday.€€There€followed€attempts€to€reconcile€but€they€were€to€no€avail.€Mr.€Ô_ÔOfaÔ_Ô's€defiance€continued€toÐ ä ä  Ðdisrupt€services€and€eventually€the€Church's€secretary€was€in5tructed€to€write€a€letter€to€the€Ô_ÔOfasÔ_Ô€to€informÐ Ð!Ð!  Ðthem€that€their€attendance€at€church€was€no€longer€welcomed€and€to€notify€them€of€their€removal€asÐ ¼"¼"! Ðmembers€of€the€Church.€Ð ¨#¨#" Ѐ€€€€At€this€time,€Mr.€Ô_ÔOfaÔ_Ô€and€his€family€no€longer€attend€services€with€the€defendant€church.€Together€withÐ p%p%# Ðthe€other€plaintiffs,€the€Ô_ÔOfaÔ_Ô€household€now€worships€again€under€borrowed€housing.€Finally,€the€evidenceÐ \&\&$ Ðdid€not€disclose€the€Church€in€Tonga€as€having€taken€a€further€hand€in€the€matter€which€now€has€found€itsÐ H'H'% Ðway€into€the€secular€courts.€Ð 4(4(& Ѐ€€€€DISCUSSION€Ð ü)ü)' Ѐ€€€€As€noted€at€the€outset,€plaintiffs€seek€a€liquidated€share€of€the€Church's€assets.€They€seek€dissolutionÐ Ä+Ä+( Ðon€a€number€of€grounds.€The€first€of€these€is€premised€on€the€claim€that€the€Church€as€a€body€corporate€isÐ °,°,) Ða€sham€and€thus€subject€to€an€Order€to€wind€up€its€affairs,€to€sell€its€assets,€and€the€proceeds€of€the€assetsÐ œ-œ-* Ðgiven€over€to€"an€equitable€distribution."€The€principal€contention€here€concerns€the€setting€up€of€theÐ ˆ.ˆ.+ Ðcorporation€by€Rev.€Vi€aided€by€non-church€members.€Plaintiffs'€position€at€trial€was€that€the€initiativeÐ t/t/, Ðtaken€by€Rev.€Vi€to€incorporate€the€Church€was€unauthorized€by€the€membership€as€a€whole€and€that€theÐ `0`0- Ðinvolvement€of€non-church€members€as€incorporators€demonstrated€a€sham.€Plaintiffs€further€took€theÐ L1L1. Ðstance€that€the€fact€of€incorporation€was€ò ò[8ASR2d116]ó ó€inconsistent€with€what€they€had€believed€was€theÐ 8282/ Ðtrue€status€of€the€Church.€This€belief€is€that€the€Church€was€originally€formed€on€the€understanding,€thatÐ ÜÜ Ðthe€same€was€subject€to€the€control€of€the€Church€in€Tonga,€and€that€all€Church€assets€were€accordinglyÐ ÈÈ Ðcontrolled€by€the€Church€in€Tonga.€It€is€argued€that€incorporation€was€in€derogation€of€this€control€andÐ ´´ Ðattempted€to€separate€the€local€church€from€the€Church€in€Tonga.€In€this€regard€the€allusion€appears€to€beÐ    Ðto€the€difference€between€the€"hierarchical€"€or€presbyterian€type€of€church€government€on€the€one€hand,Ð ŒŒ Ðand€the€strictly€"congregational"€or€independent€type€of€church€government€on€the€other.€With€the€formerÐ xx Ðtype,€ecclesiastical€government€rests€in€a€superior€general€church€organization€of€which€the€local€church€isÐ dd Ðan€organic€part.€With€the€latter€type,€the€local€church€is€seen€supreme€in€all€of€its€affairs€and€itsÐ PP Ðgovernment€vested€in€the€membership.€While€the€local€church€might€still€be€affiliated€with€a€generalÐ << Ðchurch,€it€is€merely€confederated€therewith€in€polity.€€See€generally€Watson€v.€Jones,€80€U.S.€(13€Wall.€)Ð ( (  Ð666€(1871).€Ð    Ѐ€€€€These€arguments€by€which€plaintiffs€now€seek€to€justify€dissolution€are€lacking€in€conviction.€ObviouslyÐ Ü Ü  Ðwhile€the€status€quo€was€to€plaintiffs'€liking,€they€thoroughly€endorsed€the€very€state€of€affairs€which€theyÐ È È  Ðnow€complain€of€as€being€a€nullity.€Plaintiffs€cannot€now€be€heard€to€complain€or€to€question€the€validityÐ ´ ´  Ðof€incorporation€after€having€participated€in€the€Church's€affairs€and€having€dealt€with€the€Church€as€aÐ    Ðcorporate€entity€for€some€years.€In€these€circumstances,€plaintiffs€are€Ô_ÔestoppedÔ_Ô€from€denying€the€validity€ofÐ ŒŒ Ðcorporate€existence.€€See,€e.g.,€Willis€v.€City€of€Valdez,€546€P.2d€570€(Alaska€1976);€Congregation€Ô_ÔB'NaiÔ_ÔÐ xx ÐAbraham€v.€Ô_ÔArkyÔ_Ô€20€S.W.2d€899€(Mo.€1929).€The€testimony€reveals€that€the€Church€was€given€corporateÐ dd Ðstatus€some€five€years€prior€to€the€division.€The€lack€of€objection€noted€at€the€membership's€initialÐ PP Ðgathering€to€consider€the€requirements€of€corporate€existence€infers€general€consensus€and€subscription€byÐ << Ðthe€membership€to€corporate€existence.€This€meeting€may€be€viewed€as€an€organizational€one,€andÐ (( Ðsubsequent€dealings€by€the€membership,€including€the€holding€of€elections€in€accordance€with€the€ArticlesÐ  Ðof€Incorporation,€and€indeed€the€assumption€of€elective€offices€thereby€by€plaintiffs€Ô_ÔOfaÔ_Ô€and€Ô_ÔKatoaÔ_Ô,€allÐ  Ðpoint€to€ratification€of€the€incorporators'€actions€by€the€membership.€ò ò[8ASR2d117]ó ó€In€his€testimony,Ð ìì Ðplaintiff€Ô_ÔKatoaÔ_Ô€took€credit€for€petitioning€the€Church€in€Tonga€to€have€Rev.€Vi€appointed€to€the€status€ofÐ ÜÜ ÐÔ_ÔPa.storÔ_Ô€while€plaintiff€Ô_ÔOfaÔ_Ô,€in€seeking€immigration€sponsorship€of€Rev.€Vi€by€the€Church,€did€in€fact€holdÐ ÈÈ Ðout€the€Church€as€a€duly€organized€body€corporate€to€the€Government€of€American€Samoa.€The€attemptÐ ´´ Ðnow€by€plaintiffs€to€discredit€the€Church's€corporate€status€as€a€sham€rings€rather€hollow.€If€anything,€theÐ    Ðevidence€before€us€sustains€the€conclusion€that€the€Church€was€duly€incorporated€as€a€religiousÐ ŒŒ Ðorganization€pursuant€to€the€laws€of€American€Samoa€.€Ð xx Ѐ€€€€Among€other€things,€it€was€clear€on€the€evidence€that€the€Church€was€incorporated€to€settle€any€doubtsÐ @@ Ðabout€its€entitlement€to€hold€land.€The€incorporation€was€effectively€accomplished€and€we€find€no€evidenceÐ ,, Ðto€the€contrary€that€the€corporation€was€other€than€a€de€jure,€if€not€at€least€a€de€facto,€entity.€As€such,€theÐ    Ðvalidity€of€its€corporate€existence€may€not€be€collaterally€attacked,€as€it€is€here,€to€determine€title€toÐ !!! Ðproperty€after€a€dispute€between€members.€See€Ô_ÔMcAuliffeÔ_Ô€v.€Russian€Greek€Catholic€Church,€36€A.2d€53Ð ð!ð!" Ð(Conn.€1944)€cert.€denied€323€U.S.€726;€Congregation€Ô_ÔB'NaiÔ_Ô€Abraham€v.€Ô_ÔArkyÔ_Ô,€supra.€Notwithstanding,Ð Ü"Ü"# Ðthe€argument,€that€the€incorporation€exercise€was€a€sham€because€of€non-member€incorporators,€fails€toÐ È#È#$ Ðimpress.€As€noted€above,€these€non-members€were€American€Samoan€nationals.€Their€involvementÐ ´$´$% Ðreflected€no€more€than€the€statutory€requirement€that€the€majority€of€incorporators€of€an€eleemosynaryÐ  % %& Ðcorporation€must€be€United€States€nationals.€Ô_ÔA.S.C.A.Ô_Ô€ðð€30.0201.€Any€suggestion€of€wrongdoing€on€theÐ Œ&Œ&' Ðpart€of€Rev.€Vi€is€clearly€unwarranted,€and€we€fail€to€see€the€involvement€of€non-church€members€in€theÐ x'x'( Ðincorporation€process€as€giving€rise€to€a€sham.€Again€the€argument€lacks€merit€in€view€of€ratification.€Ð d(d() Ѐ€€€€On€plaintiffs'€point€regarding€incorporation€as€effecting€the€Church's€change€in€status€fromÐ ,*,** Ðð ðhierarchicalðð€to€"congregationalðð€and€thereby€justifying€dissolution,€the€contention€fails€to€advanceÐ +++ Ðplaintiffs'€cause€one€way€or€the€other.€Assuming€that€the€evidence€sustained€plaintiffs'€claim€that€theÐ ,,, ÐChurch€was€hierarchical€or€presbyterian€in€organic€make€up,€the€fact€remains€that€there€was€never€anyÐ ð,ð,- Ðdisagreement€whatsoever€between€Tonga€and€the€defendants.€€Indeed,€if€local€church€government€wasÐ Ü-Ü-. Ðsubject€to€the€jurisdiction€ò ò[8ASR2d118]ó ó€of€the€Church€in€Tonga,€the€ecclesiastical€measures€takenÐ È.È./ Ðtowards€resolving€the€dispute€were€in€exact€accordance€with€the€recommendations€from€the€Church€inÐ ¸/¸/0 ÐTonga.€These€measures€were€apparently€acceptable€to€plaintiffs,€as€well€as€defendants,€and€the€resultsÐ ¤0¤01 Ðthereof€presumably€in€accord€with€the€Church€in€Tonga€as€the€latter€has€taken€no€further€action.€PlaintiffsÐ 112 Ðnonetheless€pray€this€Court€to€dissolve€the€Church€because€things€did€not€go€their€way.׃Ô_t×Ý ƒM)ÝÔÿÔòòòò(Ú  Ú3Ú  Ú)óóóóÔÿÔÝ  Ý×Ô_×€€The€prayer€isÐ |2|23 Ðclearly€inconsistent€with€early€established€law€that€a€person€who€voluntarily€joins€a€religious€society€orÐ ÜÜ Ðchurch,€does€so€with€implied€consent€to€church€government.€€Watson€v.€Jones,€supra.€Ð ÈÈ Ѐ€€€€Similarly,€if€the€Church€is€in€fact€congregational€in€nature,€and€therefore€its€government€vested€in€theÐ  Ðcongregation,€then€the€resolutions€resulting€from€the€overwhelming€majority€vote€of€the€membership€wereÐ || Ðdeterminative€of€the€dispute.׃Ô_P ×Ý ƒM)ÝÔÿÔòòòò(Ú  Ú4Ú  Ú)óóóóÔÿÔÝ  Ý×Ô_Ü ×€€There€is€simply€no€room€in€the€ò ò[8ASR2d119]ó ó€circumstances€for€this€CourtÐ hh Ðto€be€interfering€with€Church€government€let€alone€considering€the€dissolution€of€its€charter€at€theÐ XX Ðinstigation€of€a€handful€of€discordant€members.€Ð DD Ѐ€€€€Finally,€plaintiffs€also€appear€to€intimate,€with€their€claim€that€as€members€of€the€Church€they€each€heldÐ   Ða€defined€and€vested€proprietary€interest€in€the€Church's€property,€that€therefore€with€their€separation€fromÐ ø ø  Ðthe€Church€they€were€entitled€to€have€separated€out€that€proprietary€interest.€For€example,€from€Mr.Ð ä ä  ÐÔ_ÔFunakiÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔOfaÔ_Ô's€point€of€view,€he€had€been€a€founding€member€and€in€his€many€years€with€the€Church€he€hadÐ Ð Ð  Ðpersonally€contributed€some€$17,000.€(In€cross€examination€this€total€was€explained€as€monies€fromÐ ¼ ¼  Ðpersonal€income€as€well€as€from€fund€raising.)€This€money€he€wants€back.€Ð ¨ ¨  Ѐ€€€€Quite€apart€from€our€difficulties€in€accepting€the€accuracy€of€Mr.€Ô_ÔOfaÔ_Ô's€accounting,€or€that€he€even€keptÐ pp  Ðan€accounting,€he€parted€property€interest€with€that€money€long€ago,€at€least€in€accordance€with€theÐ \\ Ðfamiliar€principles€applying€to€perfected€gifts€with€no€strings€attached.€There€is€no€revocation€after€deliveryÐ HH Ðof€the€property€gifted€and€we€find€nothing€on€the€evidence€to€show€a€contrary€Ô_ÔdonativeÔ_Ô€intention€on€theÐ 44 Ðpart€of€Mr.€Ô_ÔOfaÔ_Ô,€or€indeed€on€the€part€of€any€of€the€other€contributing€membership,€that€giving€to€theÐ    ÐChurch€was€otherwise€than€unconditional.€(Certainly€Mr.€Ô_ÔOfaÔ_Ô€never€had€property€to€start€with€in€theÐ    Ðdonations€received€by€him€from€third€parties€on€behalf€of€the€Church.)€€Ô_ÔForÔ_Ô€these€reasons€the€claims€of€theÐ øø Ðother€plaintiffs€to€interest€in€the€Church's€property€are€similarly€seen€as€unfounded.€ò ò[8ASR2d120]ó ó€Ð ää Ѐ€€€€We€conclude€on€the€foregoing€that€plaintiffs€and€each€of€them€have€failed€to€demonstrate€any€cause€forÐ °° Ðrelief.€Therefore€the€complaint€is€hereby€dismissed€and€plaintiffs€take€nothing€thereby.€JudgmentÐ œœ Ðaccordingly.€Ð ˆˆ Ѐ€€€€It€is€so€Ordered.€Ð PP ÐÓ  Ó*********€