Kirk of the Hills will buy its own building
The Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church USA will get $1.75 million from the sale of a church building without a single dollar of investment.
Faced with losing their building, members of Kirk of the Hills Church narrowly voted to end a dispute with their former denomination by paying $1.75 million for a facility the congregation had totally funded.
The church split from the denomination in August 2006 because of the denomination’s liberalized view of the infallibility of the Bible. Part of that new interpretation was a softening toward homosexuality being seen as a sin and the possible ordination of homosexual ministers.
Kirk members voted overwhelmingly to leave and have subsequently joined the EPC-Evangelical Presbyterian Church through New Wineskins.
The congregation voted October 19 to pay the Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church USA $1.75 million dollars to settle all existing litigation.
“This settlement will allow the Kirk of the Hills to keep its property located at 4102 E. 61st Street,” according to a statement on the church’s website. “The Kirk of the Hills’ congregation voted to settle the litigation and effectively buy its property back so that it can close this chapter in the church’s history and keep its ministry and community projects moving forward. The transaction is scheduled to close on November 15.”
On September 9, District Judge Jefferson Sellers ruled that the Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery is the rightful owner of that property under the Denomination Constitution. But the denomination has not contributed any funds toward the building. Years ago, it made a small loan to the congregation but that was fully repaid.
The church had sued the denomination to establish its claim to the building but the judge found in favor of PCUSA.
Under the settlement:
• The Kirk of the Hills Corporation will agree to pay the Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery the amount of $1,750,000 in exchange for transfer of ownership to all real and personal property.
• Closing would occur before November 15, 2008.
• At closing, there would be an exchange of mutual releases and the EOP, the PCUSA and Kirk would dismiss all claims against each other including all officers, directors, trustees, employees, attorneys, accountants, banks and insurance carriers. The affidavit filed by the EOP in the Tulsa County Land records would be released as to the property to be conveyed to the Kirk.
The EOP will agree that they will assert no further claims.
The Sunday night vote was 508 to 483. Some members wanted to walk away from the building. Others wished to appeal the judge’s decision.
By buying back the building, the church’s ministries - including child care - will not be interrupted.
Several churches in Tulsa had offered Kirk of the Hills use of their facilities should they be kicked out of the building.
The church, which already has a $1 million loan against the building, will borrow the money to pay the PCUSA.
Churches all over America are considering withdrawal from the denomination for the same reasons and face issues of losing a building that they paid for but is technically owned by the denomination
Sources within PCUSA said part of the money from the Kirk will be used to hire lawyers to prevent other churches from leaving with their property.