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This appeal involves a dispute over church property between the national Christian Methodist Episcopal Church CME1 and the trustees, pastor, and former members of Bethel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church jointly hereinafter referred to as Bethel Church, a local subordinate church of CME that has sought to disaffiliate from CME and has retained control over the church property.2 At issue is whether the church property is impressed with a trust in favor of CME. After an evidentiary final hearing,3 the trial court ruled that, under the terms of the Book of Discipline, the property and church building claimed by the Bethel Church was held in trust on behalf of CME. Bethel Church appeals from that order, arguing that the trial court did not properly consider the language of the deed that transferred the church property to Bethel Church in relation to other specific facts. We affirm the trial court.

In its petition, CME asserts that it is a hierarchical religious denomination, which is organized and functions solely as a connectional church with subordinate governing districts and location churches,4 and it alleged that for over 100 years, Bethel Church has been a subordinated, connectional member of the national CME church, which is subject to the mode of church government set forth in the CME Book of Discipline.5

 
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