[detsaoT]

I think the Methodist church (and the Episcopal, for that matter) hold the deed to the property in trust for the congregation. In most cases, from what I understand, the land & buildings are purchased and built by the larger church diocese (synod?) for the congregation, so in a sense this arrangement makes sense.

A much more important question for we Virginian Methodists is how we keep promoting these secularists to extremely high positions in the church? I'm an ex-Methodist as a direct result of the vast drift to the socialist left that the church as a whole has taken. I sure wish someone'd lead the Methodist church back to God's teachings...

[mbarker12474]

The local members buy and build and maintain, with some occassional support from conference funds. In any event, the property might be 100+ years old and purchased by members long-dead.

In a practical sense, the property comes from the blood, sweat, toil, and money of the locals.

[TaxRelief]

Actually, Episcopal churches are built and paid for by the local congregation. In many cases, the facilities were well established long before the time the "money grab" trust clauses were added.