Posted on 09/24/2008 11:07:10 AM PDT by Gamecock
A Tulsa, Okla., megachurch lost a two-year property battle in court Tuesday when the county district judge ruled in favor of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Judge Jefferson Sellers ruled that the the Kirk of the Hills church property belongs to the PC(USA) and the Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery, a regional body of the denomination, and not the local congregation.
The 2,400-member Kirk of the Hills congregation, which was the second largest church in the regional presbytery, has been in legal battle over the property since it split from the PC(USA) in August 2006. After an overwhelming vote to leave the denomination, citing concerns that the denomination is drifting from its biblical base, the local church sued both the PC(USA) and the regional presbytery to retain ownership of the more than 100,000-square-foot building.
Tuesday's court decision didn't come as a surprise to the Kirk of the Hills leadership.
“We are disappointed by this decision, but not surprised," co-pastor Tom Gray said in a statement. "We are hopeful that the Oklahoma Supreme Court will correct this injustice."
The church said they will appeal the decision.
"All we have wanted was to keep the property we purchased and have considered our home for worship, teaching and fellowship for these many decades," Gray stated. "We will continue to stand firm on the teachings of the Holy Bible and look to the Lord for our strength."
Kirk of the Hills, which is now a part of the more conservative Evangelical Presbyterian Church, paid for the property over the last four decades, according to the church's statement. But the PC(USA) has maintained that all property of Presbyterian churches is held in trust for the denomination, citing its constitution.
"The court affirmed the concept that individuals may leave the church, but they cannot take the church property with them," said Craig Hoster, attorney for the Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery, according to Tulsa World. "We will now begin the orderly transition of the church property to the Presbytery."
The thousands of Kirk of the Hills members will be able to worship at the church property this weekend, but the local congregation will work with the PC(USA) and EOP regarding future activities at the church during the appeal.
"We're praying for and seeking God's will," said co-pastor Wayne Hardy, as reported by Tulsa World. "The church is doing very well. The congregation is doing very well, and they're behind us."
Besides Kirk of the Hills, 23 other churches have left the PC(USA) and realigned with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, according to the local church statement.
Ping
The Godly thing for the PC(USA) to do is release the church for them. Just goes to show how incredibly off course the PC(USA) is becoming and has been.
Confessing Episcopalians have encountered the same thing. The real Church must come out from among the wolves....leaving everything behind and walking by faith.
***leaving everything behind and walking by faith.***
Indeed.
As the OPC did in the 1930s
We lost our building to the PCUSA in the late 60’s. It is now part of Mars Hill.
I just wish when they have these “gimme money” drives they would tell their congregation they really do not own the building much less the land it sets on......
***Like it not that is the meaning of denominational participation.***
In the Presbyterian Church in America, the local congregation owns the building. Helps keep the home office honest.
The same tactic that the conservatives tried to pull in this matter could be used by liberals, or as an earlier poster suggested, greedy scumbags.
People should have the courage of their convictions and move on.
Maybe the conservative members could just rent some temporary space for now. If the PC can't fill up the pews of this church, they may be willing to sell it back to the conservatives at a discount.
It’s one of the reasons I don’t contribute to new building efforts. We won’t own the building.
A big Episcopal church in Roanoke Va built a big church facility. They decided to split with the denomination and joined a conservative African Episcopal group. When the denomination tried to come after the building, they found the church had not built the building. It was built by the members and leased to the church.
PWN3D!
I believe the PCA church doesn’t associate itself with any one group (except by doctrine). I’m not sure why it hasn’t joined a group but it’s probably a good lesson. All the funds for the building, etc. stays with the church.
In the spirit of the Religion forum, I'll limit myself to an 'absolutely not true'. I'll even give the benefit of the doubt and assume that the comment is made out of ignorance.
And as our PCA congregation has done within the last 20 years.
And thanks for the ping. Last I read, the congregation was considering an appeal, and the parties have both shown an interest in negotiating. The Presbytery knows that it will have to sell the property even if it wins.
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