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Government targets small black church Oklahoma city wants to make room for tax-generating shopping area -------------------------------------------------------- Posted: January 27, 2006 1:00 a.m. Eastern © 2006 WorldNetDaily.com A small church in Oklahoma has come up against the large hand of the state as it faces possible seizure to make room for a tax-generating shopping center. Centennial Baptist Church has been ministering to the black community of Sand Springs for years, led by its pastor, Roosevelt "Rosey" Gildon. But the city says the church building, which sees about 50 congregants gather on Sunday mornings, is in the way of progress – Sand...

Unholy Land Grabs Eminent Domain and the Church January 23, 2006 Note: This commentary was delivered by Prison Fellowship President Mark Earley. In 2003, government leaders in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, adopted what they called "Vision 2025." The plan is billed as the "largest set of public redevelopment projects in the history of Tulsa County." The members ofCentennial Baptist Church in Sand Springs call it something else: an "unholy land grab." It's a land grab for which we have the Supreme Court to thank. Part of "Vision 2025" calls for redeveloping "an abandoned industrial area" in Sand Springs for "big box...

Note: This commentary was delivered by Prison Fellowship President Mark Earley. In 2003, government leaders in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, adopted what they called “Vision 2025.” The plan is billed as the “largest set of public redevelopment projects in the history of Tulsa County.” The members of Centennial Baptist Church in Sand Springs call it something else: an “unholy land grab.” It’s a land grab for which we have the Supreme Court to thank. Part of “Vision 2025” calls for redeveloping “an abandoned industrial area” in Sand Springs for “big box retailers” and other stores. However, the area in question isn’t...

Date: January 20, 2006 From: Jerry Falwell EMINENT DOMAIN KNOCKING ON CHURCH’S DOOR I learned this week that a small Baptist church in Oklahoma is at risk of losing its place of worship because it sits on a site where city leaders want to build a shopping plaza. This eminent domain business is getting serious. Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s Kelo ruling last year, we are facing a brand new ballgame in terms of private property and what that term really means. For the Rev. Roosevelt Gildon, pastor of the Centennial Baptist Church in Sand Springs, Okla., eminent domain is...

For seven years, Reverend Roosevelt Gildon has preached the gospel at the Centennial Baptist Church in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. His congregation, around 50 strong, is like a small family. The elderly members, and those without cars, often walk to Sunday services. “Rosey,” as his friends call him, figured he’d go on preaching in the tidy steel structure for years to come. That was, until the government told him they were taking his church away. Since the Supreme Court's controversial Kelo decision last summer, eminent domain has entered a new frontier. It’s not just grandma’s house we have to worry about....

Unholy Land Grab; In the spirit of Kelo. By Heather Wilhelm For seven years, Reverend Roosevelt Gildon has preached the gospel at the Centennial Baptist Church in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. His congregation, around 50 strong, is like a small family. The elderly members, and those without cars, often walk to Sunday services. “Rosey,” as his friends call him, figured he’d go on preaching in the tidy steel structure for years to come. That was, until the government told him they were taking his church away. Since the Supreme Court's controversial Kelo decision last summer, eminent domain has entered a new...