Orlando Sentinel's Mark Schlueb speaks with FOX35 about Orlando filing a lawsuit to force a church to sell its land for the new Major League Soccer stadium. (Video by FOX35)

After a year of failed talks, Orlando has filed suit in court to force a family-owned church in Parramore to sell its land to make way for a new Major League Soccer stadium.

If successful, the eminent domain action filed Thursday in Orange Circuit Court would allow Orlando to take the last of 20 parcels needed for the $115 million stadium being built for the Orlando City Lions, an MLS expansion franchise.

Newly released records show the city more than doubled its initial offer for the small, African-American-owned Faith Deliverance Temple, to $4 million.

Members of the family that owns the church reduced their initial selling price from $35 million to $15 million. Even so, the two sides remained far apart.

City Attorney Mayanne Downs characterized the church's asking price as essentially "a blank check."

"We've got a duty to safeguard the assets of the city," Downs said. "While we were certainly willing to pay the Williams family a substantial amount of money much more than the property is worth by any estimate there comes a point where we have to go to court."

Asked for comment, church representative Jonathan Williams referred questions to the church's lawyer, who did not return a call Tuesday.

The process of eminent domain, or condemnation, has two phases.

First, a judge will decide whether the purpose of taking the land building a soccer stadium fits the law's definition of a legitimate public use.

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Orlando files suit to take church land for stadium

RUUT NEWS @ FREINDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH CONSTRUCTION SITE 1

By: Nazim ABDUL-LATIF

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RUUT NEWS @ FREINDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH CONSTRUCTION SITE 1 - Video

(Photo: Eric Cotter/ Eastside Christian Church)

One of the first worship services held at Eastside Christian Church's new location at an old Boeing facility in Anaheim in November of 2012.

May 19, 2014|11:24 am

Americans exaggerate how often they go to Church in answers to surveys, a new study finds. Catholics and Mainline Protestants exaggerated more than Evangelical Protestants and black Protestants.

Since religious service attendance is considered positive behavior, Americans tend to overestimate how often they attend services when answering questions from a live interviewer. This is called a "social desirability bias."

When answering questions for an anonymous internet survey, the social desirability bias does not have the same effect. So, Public Religion Research Institute compared the results of phone surveys to those of internet surveys.

Among all Americans, the study found a five percentage point difference for frequent church attendance. Thirty-six percent of Americans answered that they attend religious services weekly or more when asked by a live interviewer, compared to 31 percent who answered the same for an online questionnaire.

Among infrequent church goers, the difference was even greater, 13 percentage points. Only 30 percent of phone survey respondents answered that seldom or never attend religious services, compared to 43 percent of internet survey respondents.

The study found some differences among denominations, age groups, and regions of the country. Catholics, Mainline Protestants, young people, Northeasterners and Westerners were more prone to exaggeration than Evangelicals, Black Protestants, old people, and Southerners. The differences were also greater among those who said they seldom or never attend religious services than among those who said they attend weekly or more. No differences were found based upon race, ethnicity or gender.

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Study: Americans Exaggerate How Often They Go to Church; Catholic, Mainline Exaggerate More Than Evangelical

by Jason Lamb

ANTIOCH, Tenn. Members of a Mid-State church that burned down in a dramatic fire last year now have something to look forward to.

This weekend, members of the Bell Road Church of the Nazarene in Antioch gathered for the groundbreaking of their new church on the same property.

For 16 months, the membership has had to worship out of another church, while plans for the new one were being developed.

Construction issues and a change in contractors delayed the groundbreaking until now, but the church pastor said the wait will be worth it.

I really believe we are moving into a new era, I think for our church this is a new beginning, said Pastor Bryan Russell. I'm looking forward to it being a new spark of enthusiasm to the church.

Russell said if construction goes as scheduled, the church hopes to open its doors by Thanksgiving of 2014.

Originally posted here:
Groundbreaking Follows Dramatic Church Fire

TRICHY: Twenty-two workers were injured on Monday when they fell from a metal scaffolding which was erected at the St Mary's Cathedral Church at Melapudhur. Labourers were hurt after they fell from a height of over 60 feet as the scaffolding on which they were standing collapsed. The injured are now admitted at the Government Hospital in Trichy.

The injured are mostly migrant labourers from West Bengal. A few are from nearby villages in Trichy district.

The incident occurred at 4.15pm when the labourers were working on the interior designs at the top of the church. The construction of a new church has been ongoing for two years after the demolition of a 173-year-old structure.

A fire and rescue team was deployed to extricate the workers from the debris before they were rushed to the hospital in four ambulances. A Syed Mohammed Shah, divisional forest officer, inspected the entire premises and said no there are no major casualties.

Doctors at the government hospital said workers were being treated for fractures and abrasions. A man who witnessed the incident, Thangaraj S from Viralimalai, said most labourers were wearing safety helmets and thus could escape major injuries despite the fall from a great height.

B Ravishankar, district manager, 108 ambulances, said the GPS system installed in the ambulances also came in handy to reach the spot from Karur with ease. An ambulance that arrived at the hospital with a a patient was soon put to use and sent to ferry all the injured to the hospital.

The famous Melapudhur Church attracts a large number of devotees from the region.

Church authorities said the new structure that is being built is 125 feet high from the ground to the top of the bell. The re-construction is done in such a way that the church will be visible from several places in Trichy.

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22 workers hurt after scaffolding collapses in Trichy

Published: Monday, May 19, 2014, 12:01a.m.

An extended centennial celebration for Transfiguration Roman Catholic Church in West Deer culminated on Sunday with a service that focused on the parish's past, present and future.

The Most Rev. William Winter, a retired bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, led the 100th anniversary Mass, which brought together about 200 parishioners and a few pastors who, at one time or another, were involved with the church.

It was a day that, in the eyes of several parishioners and clergymen, did not seem possible only eight years ago when fire destroyed the parish's Poma Street church. But like Transfiguration's congregation has done on several occasions before and since the fire, the group banded together and found a solution, ultimately opening another church two years later along McKrell Road.

Transfiguration is a family, said Clara Salvi, chairwoman of the church's centennial committee. I'm not sure another parish could have done what we did ... we have risen from the ashes. We are proud of our past and hopeful for the future.

Transfiguration's past elicits from its parishioners a pride that's rooted in overcoming adversity.

Its origins date to the early 20th century, when the people of West Deer successfully petitioned St. Mary of Czestochowa in New Kensington for a pastor to lead their own parish. The area was considered a mission of St. Mary's.

By August 1914, the group founded a church committee and began building their Poma Street church, which they completed two years later. On the 50th anniversary of the church committee's founding, Transfiguration began building a school along McKrell Road.

As things went along smoothly for close to another 50 years, the parish had a major setback in June 2006 when a car parked behind the church caught fire during a morning Mass. The flames spread to the church, eventually causing the roof to collapse.

No one was injured, but the damage to the parish seemed irreparable, according to lifelong parishioner Dorothy Neibar, 78, of West Deer.

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West Deer church concludes centennial celebration, looks forward to the next 100 years

by Leslie Krowchenko DCNN Correspondent

Marple Commissioners voted 5-0, May 12, to grant preliminary and final land development to Springton Lake Presbyterian Church, 3090 Newtown Street Road, for construction of a 5,457-square foot addition. The plan previously received approval from the Planning Commission and Zoning Board.

A much larger expansion was approved in 2002, but at the time, the congregation chose to enlarge only the parking lot. Unlike the former plan, which would have been built along Route 252, the new design is in the rear of the sanctuary and due to the topography, will not be visible from the highway.

The two-story addition, with a basement and first floor, will provide a fellowship hall for social functions, two staff offices, three classrooms, an elevator and handicapped-accessible restrooms. Approximately two-thirds of the new building will have a green roof. Several classrooms and the kitchen will also be renovated in the existing building.

It is smaller and less intrusive than the original proposal, said attorney Mike Maddren. It is environmentally friendly and will have minimal impact.

Swimming Pools

The board voted by the same margin to amend the ordinance regarding swimming pool water discharge to prohibit emptying or draining into the township sanitary or storm sewers, waterways or adjoining properties. The discharge must be done in a way that does not create a health hazard or nuisance to the pool owner, neighbor or township.

The wording for the amendment was taken from the state DEP guidelines and the decision for the change was the result of the agency fining a township in central Pennsylvania after pool water was drained into the sanitary sewer, said Township Manager Tony Hamaday at the boards April meeting. He added pools may be emptied by releasing the water onto the lawn or having a professional company pump it out.

The township must be the educator, he added. We are looking to insure the township does not get hit with a fine because we failed to notify our residents.

Other Business

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Marple approves Springton Lake Church expansion

VALDOSTA CrossPointe Church Pastor David Rogers wanted something different for his summer months.

Last fall, Rogers thought and prayed about a way to have a life-changing experience while changing the lives of others. He turned to a great friend, his church, the community, an in-church film crew. On Tuesday morning, Rogers and friend Bill Hurley will straddle their Harley-Davidsons and turn to the open road.

They embark on the Unseen Project, an ambitious two-month, criss-cross tour of the United States. Rogers explains the premise: Two friends set out on an epic journey to see America the Beautiful but find America the Unseen.

By unseen, Rogers, Hurley and the film crew will seek pockets of poverty, human trafficking, addiction and other troubles within the nation. They will learn more about these issues via human contact while sharing with others through the film project. But they also expect to find threads of faith and a deepening friendship as they travel by motorcycle from city to city and state to state.

Praying for a summer mission, Rogers was inspired by the idea of a nationwide journey. Traveling by motorcycle seemed the natural mode. Rogers has been riding since the age of 7.

Hurley seemed the appropriate partner for this adventure. Employed by Cauthan Construction, Hurley has been riding since the age of 9.

The two men became friends several years ago when the church was located in Remerton. They both say they have much in common. They like to play hard and work hard. They both believe they will see many emotional situations but they will also have fun along the way.

They have enlisted the support of their families and church for the Unseen Project.

Hurley and Rogers have met with various television and movie producers. Led by the churchs creative arts director, J.T. Cheek, a seven-man film crew of church members will accompany Rogers and Hurley. The crew will film the two mens actions. While Hurley and Rogers ride Harleys, the film crew will ride and film travel footage from pace vehicles provided by Cass Burch. The car dealership is one community business supporting the project. Allied Financial is another area sponsor. Spence Parkerson, the churchs worship pastor, has composed music for the project.

The film crew will follow Rogers and Hurley through all 61 stops, from the May 20 start to the scheduled July 19 return, as they travel north to Maine west through upstate New York to Pittsburgh through Ohio to Illinois and Chicago to the Dakotas to Montana then onward to Seattle, south through California, east to Las Vegas further east to Colorado and Denver then through the Rockies, through Texas along the Gulf Coast then home.

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Church ready for America the Unseen

Courtesy photo On Monday more than 25 parishioners with Immaculate Conception Church teamed up to build a temporary fence to secure the church's cemetery after it had be vandalized late last month.

On Monday more than 25 parishioners from Immaculate Conception Church took matters into their own hands to keep their cemetery secure from vandals by gathering together to build a temporary fence in light of recent criminal damage to the church's cemetery.

According to a May 9th Alamogordo Police Department report, grounds caretaker, Jimmy Villabisencio, told police that 11 sprinkler heads were broken and someone damage an irrigation pipe in the cemetery between April 23 and April 26. Villabisencio stated in the report that three rows of barbed wire on the south west fence line of the cemetery grounds were also missing.

Michael Lindsay, priest with ICC, said the APD officers advised them to secure the area to prevent and put up no trespassing signs to prevent future damages to the cemetery in the 1300 block of First Street.

ICC office manager David Gallego estimated the cost to replace the sprinkler heads could be up to $30 each and $175 for the labor.

Lindsay said several parishioners asked how they could help after the recent damage. Father Mike, as his parishioners call him, said he wanted to do something positive and get a group of people who care about their cemetery because it is important to them.

"A number of people were appreciative that we did this," Lindsey said about placing a fence to secure the cemetery.

Gallegos said it took just more than an hour to put up the 623 feet-long temporary fence.

Lindsey said due to the road project to extend Washington Avenue to the new elementary school currently under construction, fences were taken down which left no security for the cemetery. Several parishioners voiced their concerns that the City of Alamogordo never notified the church of construction or removal of the fences.

"We didn't know that they were going to put the construction road in until they cut through the fence and fenced off part of our property," Lindsey said.

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Church members add fence to cemetery

Just before dawn, Father Moses Fredricks smooths plaster in preparation for the fresco painting of the Prophet Joel on the dome at St. Seraphim of Sarov Orthodox Church.

Story by ANN HUTCHINSON / Santa Rosa Correspondent

Photos by BETH SCHLANKER / The Press Democrat

Walking into Saint Seraphim of Sarov Orthodox Christian Church in southeast Santa Rosa is like stepping back in time.

Father Patrick Doolan adds the finishing touches to a fresco painting of the Prophet Elias.

The cross-shaped building is reminiscent of ancient European cathedrals and Eastern Orthodox churches, with pillars, altar and dome. But since July, its center has been filled with modern scaffolding that supports Father Patrick Doolan and Father Moses Fredricks as they fill the dome with a fresco of Christ, angels and prophets.

The monks hope to be finished in late July, completing a project that has taken more than a decade to plan, finance and prepare. Its the most expensive of the frescoes envisioned for the church on Mountain View Avenue.

The fresco project is the largest, and maybe the only, project of its kind in a Christian Orthodox Church in the United States. Just the dome project will cost $112,000, financed with a $50,000 bequest and a fundraising campaign that continues after 15 years.

About 47 smaller frescoes remain on the uncommissioned list, priced at $3,000-$20,000 each.

Fredricks and Doolan have worked on and off since overseeing the first layers of special plaster 10 years ago, taking measurements, drawing sketches and completing many frescoes on the churchs interior walls.

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Monks create Santa Rosa church's new fresco