Without Walls Church Seeks Protection in Bankruptcy Court

Without Walls, formerly the Carpenters Home in North Lakeland, is a sanctuary tied up in a foreclosure lawsuit. The church stopped having services in 2011.

LAKELAND | Without Walls International Church, the owner of a North Lakeland sanctuary tied up in a foreclosure suit, has filed for bankruptcy protection.

The Tampa-based church filed a notice one week ago in its ongoing defense against foreclosure by the California credit union that holds the mortgage on its properties in Lakeland and Tampa. The notice said Without Walls filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in federal court in Tampa.

Evangelical Christian Credit Union described the move in court documents as a "litigation tactic" intended to stall the case. The credit union, which says Without Walls owes it $13.9million on the Lakeland property, began foreclosure proceedings in Bartow's 10th Judicial Circuit in October 2012.

Without Walls Central, originally known as Carpenter's Home Church, is the largest sanctuary in Polk County with a seating capacity of about 9,500. The church has been dormant since August 2011.

Without Walls International pastor Randy White referred The Ledger to the law firm representing the church. A message left Friday with the law firm was not returned.

Without Walls' bankruptcy filing names nearly 100 creditors.

The list includes two Polk County companies Construction Management Associates of Winter Haven and Aerial Rigging Inc. of Lakeland along with Lakeland Electric and the city of Lakeland's code enforcement department.

Construction Management Associates asserts it is owed nearly $163,000 by Without Walls . Records show Without Walls owes Lakeland Electric more than $45,000. The church also has accrued more than $5,000 in fines from Lakeland's code enforcement office for violations.

In an emergency motion filed March 10, Evangelical Christian Credit Union argued that the bankruptcy filing should not halt the foreclosure proceedings. Lawyers for Without Walls filed a response Tuesday asking the court to deny that request for a stay of relief.

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Without Walls Church Seeks Protection in Bankruptcy Court