More Zoning Issues for Church Remodeling Wal-Mart

The battle between an Illinois church that wants to remodel an old Wal-Mart for its worship center and the city government of Carlinville, Ill., rages on, as the mayor vetoed an agreement reached between the two sides and the city council failed to override.

The Telegraph in Alton, Ill., reported that Mayor Robert Schwab vetoed a written agreement between Carlinville Southern Baptist Church and the city that would have allowed the church to proceed with building its worship center in the old store. The council needed 6-3 supermajority vote to override the veto but could only muster a 5-4 simple majority.

Schwab and others on the council would like to keep the former Wal-Mart zoned commercial and attract a retail business, which would generate tax revenue for the town of 5,600. Representatives from Carlinville Southern Baptist, however, say such decisions are discriminatory and violate federal statutes: the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) and the 14th Amendment.

Church Solutions reported in April that a U.S. District Court judge ruled that the church, which has already begun renovating the property, can use the building for office purposes. This ruling resulted from the church’s lawsuit, which was a response to an injunction the city filed to keep the church from using the land for religious and educational purposes.

What the judge didn’t do was give the church the legal teeth that it needs to turn the space into a bona fide worship center, which is what they ultimately hope to do. The legal proceedings will likely continue, as the church and city have not been able to reach a compromise.

“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.”