Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian loses court fight for its property

By BILL SHERMAN World Religion Writer
9/10/2008

The congregation of Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian lost a two-year fight Tuesday to keep its church property at 4102 E. 61st St.

In a case that has national interest, Tulsa District Judge Jefferson Sellers ruled that the church property belongs to the Presbyterian Church USA and its Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery, not to the local congregation.

Two years ago, by an overwhelming vote of the congregation, Kirk of the Hills became the largest church to leave the Presbyterian Church USA over concerns that the denomination was drifting from its biblical foundation. Dozens of similar cases exist nationwide.

At that time, the congregation asked the court to affirm its ownership of the multimillion-dollar building, and has continued to meet there.

Kirk of the Hills attorney John O'Connor said the decision will be appealed. the rest