Seldon v. Singletary

Littlejohn, Chief Justice:

These two church property cases were heard separately at the trial level but were, by consent of counsel, argued together on appeal. Both involved identical church property located in Lake City. The church has heretofore been known as “Deep River Church.” *

A dispute arose among the members over church policy, doctrine and control of the property. One faction, which we shall call “the dissenters,” wished to withdraw from the corporate denomination which is headquartered in Trenton, New Jersey. Its official name is “The Pentecostal Church of the First Born of the…