Moderators Gregory Matthews Posted June 8, 2018 Moderators Posted June 8, 2018 The following is an interesting case, that generally does not affect the standard method of ownership of churdh property in the United Stated, which is generally owned by the local Conference. However, I will point out that in rare exceptions, such is not the case. As a former congregational pastor, I two (2) times pastored congregations in which the church property was not owned by the Conference and was privately owned. https://atoday.org/who-owns-churches/ Quote Gregory
B/W Photodude Posted June 9, 2018 Posted June 9, 2018 4 hours ago, Gregory Matthews said: The following is an interesting case, that generally does not affect the standard method of ownership of churdh property in the United State ... https://atoday.org/who-owns-churches/ I believe we recently had a discussion of church ownership of churchs here and afterwards I did ask around about church ownership. The explanation I received is that the local church owns the property, but the deeds are held in trust by the conference. This seems to be one of the ways that the conference can come along and close a church that has "gone off the tracks" so to speak. My guess in those situations, the errant congregation is not the founding congregation and as such the conference is honoring the founding congregation. A key passage from Justice Harry Blackmun’s majority opinion has been interpreted differently by various jurisdictions: At any time before the dispute erupts, the parties can ensure, if they so desire, that the faction loyal to the hierarchical church will retain the church property. They can modify the deeds or the corporate charter to include a right of reversion or trust in favor of the general church. Alternatively, the constitution of the general church can be made to recite an express trust in favor of the denominational church. The burden involved in taking such steps will be minimal. And the civil courts will be bound to give effect to the result indicated by the parties, provided it is embodied in some legally cognizable form. The above quote seems to follow along with the SDA situation. Quote >>>Texts in blue type are quotes<<< ***************************************************************************** And therefore as a stranger give it welcome. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. --Shakespeare from Hamlet ***************************************************************************** Bill Liversidge Seminars The Emergent Church and the Invasion of Spiritualism
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