Thieving Louisiana Oneness Folks!

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>>>>> "Matthew" == Matthew Shaw <MSHAW@teleplex.bsu.edu> writes:

    Matthew> Dear Saints, I am enjoying a discussion on another list,
    Matthew> and it has recently been alleged that after the 'New
    Matthew> Issue' exodus of Louisiana's Oneness brethren from the
    Matthew> Assemblies of God, they actually stole church properties
    Matthew> from the organisation (and logically, their
    Matthew> congregations).  This has been disclosed by a former
    Matthew> District Superintendent of the AOG in that State.  Does
    Matthew> anyone have any further enlightening facts on the topic?

    Matthew> I don't claim to be an expert on the climate of change
    Matthew> that accompianied the Oneness revolution that took place
    Matthew> in Pentecostalism, but those actions would hardly fit
    Matthew> with the restorationist spirit of our history's
    Matthew> forefathers.

An accusation of stealing does not necessarily constitute an instance
of stealing.  Did the AOG persue the matter in court?  Did they get a
convistion?  Did they get a settlement?

What may well have happened is that an entire congregation and pastor, 
or at least a majority of the congregation, became oneness, and the
AOG kicjed them out, but tried to lay claim to all the church's
tangible property, such as the building, etc.  Most US courts would
decide that if this property was purchased with funds contributed by
the local congregation, that it therefore belonged to that
congregation, not to the governing organization.  Only if the
governing organization contributed the majority of the funding from
sources outside the local congregation would a court typically decide
that it was owned by the organization.  The organization might
nonetheless presume to own the property anyway.  Only if an actual
court decision was reached supporting the AOG claim would it be fair
to conclude that the congregation indeed stole anything.

I know nothing of the particular situation you mentioned.  I am only
discussing a possible scenario.

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