Oregon high court rules that parent church owns property of breakaway Presbyterian congregation

Howard Friedman, Religion Clause

In Hope Presbyterian Church or Rogue River v. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), (OR Sup. Ct., Nov. 29, 2012), the Oregon Supreme Court held that the property of a break-away Presbyterian congregation belongs to PCUSA, the national church body.  The court concluded that it would use the “neutral principles” approach in determining the rights of the parties. Applying that approach, the court found that “Hope Presbyterian held its property in trust for the benefit of PCUSA.”