LITHONIA, Ga. — A bitter battle over church ownership is headed to court, with members saying they’ve been illegally locked out of the sanctuary.
Channel 2 Action News was contacted by longtime members who have served the new leadership of Flat Rock Community Church with a civil warrant, disputing the new pastor’s right to access the church.
They say they did not vote the new pastor into office, nor authorize the rental agreement he told Channel 2 that he has with the church.
Members tell Channel 2’s Nicole Carr the dispute started about six weeks ago when Pastor Benita Miles transferred ministerial duties to Pastor Michael Johnson.
“He’s been claiming that he owns the building,” said Johnny Waites, a longtime and now former member of the church since the dispute. Johnson claims "he has every right not to give us the key," Waites said.
Waites put up a chain link to block the entry points of the church this week.
“Right now, I’m security,” he said. “(Johnson) hadn’t paid a dime. Hadn’t paid a dime.”
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Meanwhile, the Trustee Board Chairman pulled out a warrant on Johnson.
“If there’s something that says we should no longer have access to this property, that he has a right to be here at this property, just let us know,” said Theresa Barkster.
Tax and property records pulled by Channel 2 Action News on Friday do not show Miles as the deed holder on file. All records show ownership belongs to Flat Rock Community Church, Incorporated, governed by their board.
Miles pulled up to the church Friday, but did not identify herself. She told Carr she was sorry Channel 2 was wasting time on the story, but declined to let anyone review the paperwork showing her as the deed holder.
“Can’t let you do that,” she laughed.
“That would answer that side of it,” Carr said.
Miles drove away, but later sent a woman to show Carr a copy of a deed dated October 27, 2015. It had Miles’ signature on it, but did not match current files in state and county tax records.
THREATS OF ARREST
Early Friday afternoon, a member came to Carr with a letter he said Miles posted minutes after leaving the church.
It threatened arrest and she signed off as the deed holder. Miles also demanded the chain blocking the church entry be removed by 4 p.m. Friday.
“It says ‘From Benita Miles,’” said member Darell Mackey. “Telling me I can’t come to church, can’t do anything or I’m going to be locked up.”
A locksmith hired by Johnson told Carr he was not going to remove the chain and get in the middle of a civil dispute. A DeKalb County police officer also responded to the church Friday, concluding this was a civil matter.
“I’ll see you in court,” Mackey said, referring to Miles.
Around 4 p.m. Friday, a man identified as Miles' son-in-law unsuccessfully tried breaking the chains with a hammer. He told Carr the people who called Channel 2 for the story were idiots and she needed to “get out of his face.”
“The deed holder sent me out here and I’m doing what I’m supposed to do,” the man told Carr.
“The deed holder isn’t on record in DeKalb County,” Carr told him.
NEW PASTOR’S RESPONSE
Carr was able to reach the new pastor over the phone Friday. In a text statement before that conversation, Johnson told her “at times the enemy will try to deny, detour, delay and destroy what God has in store for His people.”
Over the phone, Johnson said he plans to send due rent directly to the mortgage lender Sunday, admitting there’s no rental agreement between him and the church’s board.
When Carr told Johnson about public records showing the church incorporated as the deed holder, he said he was unaware of those records, and hoping for a peaceful solution.
“I think we all need to play nice in the sandbox because it’s all about the souls of people we’re trying to help,” Johnson said. “It’s a coming to Jesus meeting that needs to happen between the people" and Miles.
Johnson said he is also running his House of Victory Church out of the Flat Rock sanctuary. He said he is responding to the civil summons. A full response is due to the courts by Monday.
Cox Media Group
