Opinion ID: 1740683
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: glad tidings closes

Text: On January 18, 2004, Wine and Brodine held a meeting with the Glad Tidings congregation to decide the church's future. They discussed whether to join with New Life. During the meeting, the record shows the members clearly did not want to join with New Life; Miller stood up and stated that she did not want to become a part of New Life and that if Glad Tidings were going to close, she wanted it to do so immediately. Then, the other church members stood as well. Wine testified that he asked if by standing, the members were showing that they wanted to close the church and have the property revert to the District Council. Wine and Brodine testified that the members confirmed that was their intent. But Glad Tidings contends the members were only standing to show that they would not join New Life not that they wanted to close the church. After the January 18, 2004, meeting, the District Council required that Glad Tidings members turn over all church property to it. The property included a safe-deposit box containing church documents and a certificate of deposit worth about $2,500. Brodine closed Glad Tidings' checking and savings accounts containing about $1,400. Wine testified that the District Council combined Glad Tidings' funds with New Life's general fund and used it to pay Glad Tidings' utilities and maintenance expenses. Glad Tidings has not held church services since January 18, 2004, and church members have not had access to the building because the District Council changed the locks on January 21. New Life has used the church building for ministry activities in the Gibbon community. Glad Tidings still exists as a nonprofit corporation.