Going by memory I searched Manta,Buzzfile,and Chamber of Commerce. I also searched the Secretary of State in Georgia.
No data came up at the S.O.S. for corporation listings by the name of the church or the contact name listed.
I could post the contact name listed for the church but not sure if the mods would be okay with that.
It was an easy find.
Also couldn't find a website or fb for the church. Could be that it is a small congregation and they just didn't bother with the extras.
IMO
I would search for IRS records regarding tax-exempt status for identity of the owner(s). Someone owns the building and the furnishings etc.
I would search for IRS records regarding tax-exempt status for identity of the owner(s). Someone owns the building and the furnishings etc.
My understanding, from a community local, so just take this as basicly gossip, is that the small church is not affiliated with a Baptist network (so no leadership in problem areas), had such a small congregation and offering, that it could not pay its bills (like electrical and water and a pastors salary), and they got this new pastor who shook things up, brought in some new members, and wanted to change the status quo. He wanted to change the denomination and the majority agreed with him. The ones that didn't mostly moved on, except this lady. And she wanted to be heard, was not in agreement, and basicly wouldn't give it up. So they voted her out.
I saw her interview on tv and for her age, she was very spunky.
There is a little bit more information in this podcast from some of the members of the church.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/church...enora-biggs-grandson-robert-dye-special-guest
Skip the the 45 min. mark and a lady gives a few more details. There were other members that were also told they were voted out of the church and received letters.
That's what I was thinking as well. Someone higher up on the chain. I did find just a bit more background but wasn't able to find an actual link to the church.
Granted I didn't have time to search long.
The video interview says that Genora Hamm Biggs was a teacher for 40 yrs and the pastor was a former student of hers.
Also her family were founders of the church.
Former members ( one a former Deacon of the church) support her impressions of the pastor.
http://www.wfxg.com/story/30027379/103-year-old-woman-banned-from-church
I was raised in a Disciples of Christ Church in Fort Lauderdale. It was not quite fundamentalist, but close, and enthusiastically evangelical and conservative politically. My grandparents and parents were founding members and very active in religious education.
Yes, there were politics (my folks favored modernizing the curricula ("Christian sex education in 1971? Horrors!")) while others did not. It got nasty, even between friends of 20 years' standing.
BUT NOBODY EVER SUGGESTED ANYONE ELSE WASN'T WELCOME AT THE CHURCH! To do so would have been considered entirely un-Christlike by all. There are millions of fine and decent Christians still today, but every once in a while I run into a story that makes me think Jesus must do nothing but weep for the others.
Updates on the church situation and I'm loving it. It is from pimppreachers or church folk revolution. It was blogtalk radio. Mrs Biggs had 50 people sitting with her in church this last Sunday.
The leader (TJ) asked to speak with the pastor and the police told him to wait until after the service. They sat through the service and the pastor left without speaking with anyone that was with Mrs Biggs.
The group with Mrs Biggs became members and took a vote to have a new pastor. They had a pastor with them that agreed to be pastor for 90 days.
The pastor only had 8 members on his side so majority ruled? Hopefully.
The group was going to change the locks to the church (I love this) but police intervened so they left.
The family are trying to get a restraining order (for elder abuse) against pastor Mattox for Mrs Biggs.
IMO
That's great!! Sounds like maybe they received some legal advice or something since the story broke. I hope their actions are upheld!!