Conference of African Union First Colored Methodist Protestant Church v. Shell

JOHNSON, Judge:

In this action for declaratory and injunctive relief, the Conference of African Union First Colored Methodist Protestant Church (the Conference) seeks to establish its ownership rights to certain church property in the City of Lancaster held by St. Paul’s African Union First Colored Methodist Protestant Church of Lancaster, a local congregation. The Conference is a Mid-Atlantic States region religious denomination which has been in existence since 1813. St. Paul’s is a nonprofit corporation founded in 1977 and is affiliated with the Conference.

Following a final hearing, the…