A congregation in Kansas that
recently voted to leave Presbyterian Church (USA) for a more theologically
conservative group is in a legal battle over its church property.
Presbyterian Church of Stanley, a
congregation of about 1,000 members located in Overland Park, will have to go
to court with its former PCUSA regional body, the Heartland Presbytery.
A spokesman for the Church of Stanley,
who requested to remain anonymous, told The Christian Post that the central
issue of the legal dispute was ownership of the church's property and assets.
"The legal dispute is about …
the property," said the spokesman to CP on Tuesday, noting that "the
Presbytery claims they own" it.
The spokesman could not provide
ample details about the matter, but did comment to CP that arguments will
likely be heard in district court sometime next June.
In early October, Church of
Stanley's congregation voted to affiliate with the Evangelical Covenant Order
of Presbyterians, a conservative denomination founded in response to the
increasingly pro-LGBT policies of the PCUSA.
Taken among voting members present,
79 percent of Church of Stanley's congregation voted in favor of ending
affiliation with PC(USA) and joining ECO, while 21 percent opposed.
In November, at the Stated Meeting
of Heartland Presbytery held at Kaw Prairie Community Church, Lenexa, the issue
with Church of Stanley was mentioned.
"Bond Faulwell [said] the
Administrative Commission (AC) has identified members of the 'true church' of
the Presbyterian Church of Stanley PC(USA). Three commissioners from the 'true
church' were welcomed at this meeting," said a document noting highlights
from the meeting.
"Faulwell shared that from
January 2014 the Administrative Commission has been trying to work with the
session with not much success. Unfortunately the presbytery and the church are
now in civil court."
The Presbytery of the Heartland did
not return comment to The Christian Post by press time.
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