Congregational Religious Trusts in Victoria's Churches of Christ
The leaders of 21st Century church organisations face the challenge of how to revitalise and rationalise their property holdings for contemporary usage while simultaneously respecting the history and sensibilities of congregations. In an increasingly secular society, many congregations have dwindlin...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Southern Queensland Law, Religion, and Heritage Research Program Team
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Australian Journal of Law & Religion |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://ausjlr.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Volume-3-Goodwin-Reynolds.pdf |
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| Summary: | The leaders of 21st Century church organisations face the challenge of how to revitalise and rationalise their property holdings for contemporary usage while simultaneously respecting the history and sensibilities of congregations. In an increasingly secular society, many congregations have dwindling memberships and are no longer financially viable. The real estate portfolios amassed by Christian church movements and denominations, scattered around the metropolitan areas and country towns of Australia at prominent locations on main streets, are massively valuable. But who ‘owns’ the properties of churches in a religious denomination? Do the organising bodies of movements have the power to divest particular congregations of their church properties in service of the broader movement? These are questions that arouse passions and that have real contemporary significance for the 'business' of church. Answers differ depending on the characterisation of a church movement as hierarchical, presbyterian, or congregational. This article examines these questions by focusing on the case of the Churches of Christ in Victoria, a congregational movement whose properties are generally held under a variety of forms of trust. Relevant case law is reviewed. The implications of the history of the movement and its foundational principle of congregational autonomy are explained. |
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| ISSN: | 2653-5122 |