Church Remodels Wal-Mart, Wins In Court

(UPDATE FOR 6.20.08: More Zoning Issues for Church Remodeling Wal-Mart)

The fast-growing Carlinville Southern Baptist Church in Carlinville, Ill. will continue to remodel a Wal-Mart to house offices and budding ministries, thanks to a ruling in U.S. District Court. Whether or not they will actually be able to worship there remains in question.

Townhall Magazine, in a story originally printed by The Baptist Press, reports that a federal judge has ruled that Carlinville Southern Baptist Church is allowed to continue its remodeling project, regardless of zoning roadblocks.

“We can do everything we want in the new facility except use it for worship,” the church's attorney, Daniel Dalton, said. It is unknown when the court will decide the building's worship status.

The church acquired the former Wal-Mart because the company opened a larger Wal-Mart Supercenter in the community and wanted to sell the old building. The church picked up the deed for a relative discount because Wal-Mart was struggling to find buyers. It seemed like a win-win for church leaders, until they realized that Carlinville City Council had zoned the area “commercial.” Though a commercial zone allows for auditoriums “as part of a church, theater, school or recreation building,” the city demanded that all churches be in places zoned “R,” religious uses. The church applied to have the property rezoned, the Carlinville City Council denied them because the church was tax-exempt.

That decision prompted Carlinville Southern Baptist Church to take legal action, filing suit in U.S. District Court in Springfield, Ill., on the grounds that city officials were violating the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). Carlinville mayor Robert Schwab argued that a commercial business will generate much more revenue for the community than a church would.

“The city must look out for the economic interest of the entire community,” Schwab said.

The old Wal-Mart encompasses 60,000 square feet in Carlinville, which is equidistant from Springfield and St. Louis.

“This is not about a building, and we're not just trying to win a court case,” Pastor Tim Rhodus told The Illinois Baptist. “We're asking God for a spiritual awakening for our entire community. Everyone in this area is paying attention, and we need God to show up in undeniable ways so that undecided masses recognize His power.”