MOUNDS CITY -- A hearing has been set for Nov. 10 at 9 a.m., in Pulaski County Circuit Court on a lawsuit filed by the Illinois Great Rivers Conference against Ohio Chapel Church, a breakaway congregation that declared its independence from the denomination in March.
The lawsuit, filed in August by the chancellor in behalf of the IGRC, seeks permanent injunctive relief, enjoining the congregation from "occupying, possessing or otherwise exercising control over the real and personal property" of the former United Methodist congregation. The suit also seeks a declaration from the court that all of the property possessed by the congregation is held pursuant to the United Methodist Church's Trust Clause and that an accounting be made to the Conference of all assets held by congregation since their self-declared independence.
See related story: Conference files suits against breakaway congregation that occupies building