Free Will .. Going Independent .. legalities?

[preacherman]

I am the new Pastor of a small Free Will Baptist Church. Our Church wants to pull out of the Associations, both local and national. However the association has some things writen into the deed that prohibit us from doing so. Is that legal, since the Church has completely satisfied the deed mortgage. Can the association dictate to a Church what it has to do with the property that the Church itself paid for?

[Jerry]

Dear Preacherman,,,,
If I am understanding right,,,,the Church is paid for and the asso. being the Mortgage holder no longer has a vested interest in the property.The "Things Written Into The Deed" are I believe what is called "incumberances"....I believe that they terminate when the note is satisifed,,,,,,,,,,,,but hey I am no Lawyer....Your local County "Register of Deeds" might be a place to find out for free.........
Good Luck ,,,,, Jerry :D

[preacherman]

Thanks for the input Jerry, I hadn't thought about the "Register of Deeds", I guess that ought to be my first contact.

[butterfly]

Hi Preacherman,

I hope you will find your answers to this problem.

Grrrrrrrrr some christians.

Sorry this is happening to your church.
butterfly shirley

[apike]

Dear preacherman, I know in my church, the church has written into its deed, that the property reverts to the region in the event the church folds or is taken over by a group that goes against the statement of faith of the denomination.

This is even tho the property is paid for and was at the instigation of the church itself, not the region or association, for its own protection.

Now I know of some churches that DO belong to the association or region due to financing or ongoing support from them.

This is not a Free Will church but I would find out why the clause was put in there and by whom. It may be to make sure that only Free Will people own the property.

Just some ideas.

Andrea