A Guide To Church Property Law: Theological, Constitutional And Practical Considerations

Conflict over property is as old as the Bible itself. Today's congregational leaders acknowledge the problem and seek equitable solutions. This question, and the related issue of "trust clauses" which, if enforceable, give control over local church property to national denominations, are being decided in new ways by the civil courts. Theological divisions within mainline American denominations elevate such earthly questions to a critical concern. This book offers an indispensable guide to navigating the troubled waters surrounding potential court disputes over local church property ownership and use. Leading scholars, theologians and attorneys from the Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Methodist Church and the Episcopal Church (USA), experienced in advising on church property issues, have collaborated to create this timely and useful volume. With clarity and insight, Raymond J. Dague, Peggy M. Hedden, Robert L. Howard, Lloyd J. Lunceford, R. Wicks Stephens II, Thomas C. Oden and Parker T. Williamson furnish essential orientation and share instructive steps to help evaluate and resolve competing claims to church property.