What is “the spirit of Satan?” The U.S. Supreme Court may have to answer that question if it accepts a recently appealed Iowa case in which an Iowa woman claimed a pastor defamed her by calling her “the spirit of Satan.”

The controversy began in March 1999 at the United Methodist Church of Shell Rock. In an attempt to resolve problems within the church, the Rev. Jerrold Swinton, a former district superintendent of the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church, visited Shell Rock.

After Swinton’s visit, a letter from him was circulated to both members and non-members of the church. Swinton said in the letter he was in despair when Jane Kliebenstein told him the current pastor must leave the community.

In the letter, Swinton said a church conference should be called to “propose that Jane Kliebenstein be stripped of church offices. It is understood that if she continues to cause dissension, she will next be asked to leave the Shell Rock UMC.”

The letter also said the congregation had “allowed the spirit of Satan to work in their midst.”

The case was thrown out by the Butler County District Court because the court did not want to get involved in a church matter.

“It’s a classic fight within the First Amendment,” said Barbara Mack, associate professor of journalism and communication. “This case asks whether the separation of church and state doctrine prohibits the court from examining a libel claim that’s made in connection with a church document.”

The case was appealed to the Iowa Supreme Court. In June, the Iowa Supreme Court reversed the lower court’s ruling.

“In this case, the letter from the minister was circulated both to church members and outside the church, and the Iowa Supreme Court held that the doctrine of separation of church and state doesn’t apply here,” Mack said.

Because the church filed a petition to appeal the case on Sept. 9, the U.S. Supreme Court will have to decide whether to hear it.

Mack said she does not think the Supreme Court will take the case, but if they do take it, they will be forced to determine whether Satan can exist outside church theology.

Mary Sawyer, associate professor of religious studies, said she would not be surprised if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the Iowa Supreme Court decision.

Sawyer said Swinton’s comments could be seen as part of the prophetic tradition.

“The rule of the prophet is that a religious person who is seen as a prophet can establish that a person is not living up to the moral standard of that faith,” Sawyer said. “For a religious person to use that language, he’s taking a prophetic stance that the person is violating his or her religious faith.”

The Rev. Scott Grotewold, pastor at Collegiate United Methodist Church in Ames, said if the phrase “the spirit of Satan” is used, it often refers to a situation as being unhealthy or unholy.

“[Swinton] must have felt there were unhealthy things going on,” Grotewold said.

Grotewold said a pastor may send a letter to his congregation, but it is less usual for a district superintendent to send a letter to a congregation unless there are special circumstances.

“The church is a human institution that tries, as a corporate body, to be faithful to God,” he said. “As such, the individuals who lead the church, just like all people, have within them the capacity to sow seeds that lead to joy and lead to pain.”

Grotewold said it is unfortunate this case could not be worked out through mediation.

“God hopes we will work things out relationally rather than resorting to the judicial system,” Grotewold said.

Katherine Parker, a non-degree student in liberal arts and sciences and member of Collegiate United Methodist Church, said the language in Swinton’s letter is not language that would be used at her church.

Aaron Brand is a senior in horticulture and member of Collegiate United Methodist Church. Brand said the wording in the letter is inexcusable.

“When someone is singled out like [Jane Kliebenstein] in front of a whole church, someone’s going about it in the wrong way,” Aaron said.

Brian Brand, junior in agronomy and member of the Collegiate United Methodist Church, said he does not think the Supreme Court will hear the case.

“They have more important things on their minds than a conflict between a [district superintendent] and a congregation,” Brian said.

Mack said this case could have a big impact.

“It could change libel law if ‘spirit of Satan’ is considered libelous. It will change how people act and speak,” Mack said. “It will raise questions about how far a church can go in criticizing one of its church members outside of the church.”

Grotewold said he has not changed anything in the way he ministers because of this court case. If the plaintiff is successful, Grotewold said more people might want to sue the church.

The U.S. Supreme Court will decide before June 2004 whether or not to hear the case. If the U.S. Supreme Court chooses not to hear it, the case will be returned back to the original Iowa District Court for trial.