Opinion ID: 1733790
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Description of the Church

Text: The Church Universal and Triumphant is a worldwide organization, founded in 1958 in Washington, D.C. by Mark L. Prophet. The Church operates a religious seminary, Summit University (established in 1973), on a 214-acre college campus in Los Angeles, California. Montessori International, a private school founded by the Church, is also located on the campus. As part of its worldwide ministry, the Church sponsors the operation of branch churches known as Church Universal and Triumphant Community Teaching Centers. The branch at 4551 East Lake Harriet Parkway is the subject of this appeal. The Church has been modeled after the early Essene and Christian communities and places great emphasis upon religious community living. Each teaching center has a religious residence directly associated with it. The Lake Harriet Teaching Center is a nonprofit corporation under the laws of the State of Minnesota. The subject property is a large stone mansion of 17,000 square feet overlooking Lake Harriet and was used as a duplex prior to the adoption of the current zoning code. Its current zoning status is as a permissible nonconforming duplex use under the grandfather provision of the ordinance. The first floor of the home contains a sanctuary, public reception area, bookstore and administrative offices. These areas are used by the nonresident public members of the Church and also by the residents for private devotions, for administration and for training purposes. There are also two private residential rooms on the first floor and two garages used exclusively by the residents. On the second floor, nine rooms are private residences; there is a kitchen and dining area used primarily to prepare meals for the residents but also for communal meals for nonresidents; and a library and children's playroom used by both nonresidents and resident church members. The home contains a total of 13 bedrooms and nine baths. The basement contains storage, laundry and heating areas and an audio-visual center which also serves both residents and nonresidents. At the time of trial there were 19 adults and three children residing at the subject property. Four of the adults were married couples. Some of the unmarried residents were male and some were female. The Church Director, Mr. Connor, testified that the number of residents could increase to 35 and that the upper limit would be imposed by the safety and health requirements of the residents. As of the date of trial, 13 former residents had left the property. Each had resided there for varying periods ranging in length from 2 to 8 months. All 13 former residents remained members of the Church. The community residential element is considered to be one of the essential elements of the mission of the Church. Residents are trained to be lay ministers. The activity of each center revolves around daily church services, prayer sessions and related church-sponsored activities. The center conducts six public religious services per week at the subject property. In addition, prayer services are held, analogous to those held by monks or nuns in monasteries and convents, that are not attended by the public. Daily devotions are considered a fundamental practice. Ordained ministers conduct church religious services and administer formal church sacraments. Lay ministers also serve in limited ministerial functions. Between 30 and 40 members of the Church who do not reside at the subject property routinely attend the public services. The trial court found that persons residing at the subject property live monastic lifestyles, that is, an ordered existence, subject to specific disciplines. However, residents hold jobs or attend schools in the community and participate in community life. Thus they are not cloistered from the external world. The residents of the subject property own 10 automobiles which they use daily. Up to approximately 12 additional automobiles at a time have been parked in the vicinity by nonresident church members attending the public services. There are currently six off-street parking spaces (including a 4-car garage) behind the building and there is room on the property for two more spaces but only by means of the removal of a great deal of landscaping.