New Jersey Court Awards Church Property To Parent Body; Congregants Locked Out For Christmas

The North Jersey Record reports that last week a New Jersey state Superior Court judge ruled that the property of the Community Church of Paramus belongs to the Metropolitan District of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, the church's parent body.  In 2009, the Alliance determined that the Paramus church should close because of declining membership, lack of leadership and financial difficulties. That triggered a clause in the Alliance's constitution that called for the church's property to revert to the Metropolitan District.  Community Church has owned its property since 1929. In 1996 it voted to join the Alliance, but amended its Constitution to reflect that only in 2000.  The court apparently concluded that the 1996 date was the crucial one that prevented the congregation from availing itself of a provision in the Alliance constitution that allows churches affiliated less than 10 years to reject the reversion clause. The Metropolitan District filed suit last year claiming that it was entitled to the property, and last week the court issued an order granting it possession and barring defendants from entering or occupying the property.  On Wednesday of this week, the Metropolitan District changed the locks on the church doors, locking the members out of their planned Christmas worship services. Deacon Peter Ferriero, upset with the decision, said: "We believe in the Lord and we believe this is a battle to expose the Christian and Missionary Alliance, how really what they're doing is stealing."