Keeping the faith that lawsuit will be settled

Mountain Grove Baptist Church pastor says case is bringing members together

Sunday, February 18, 2007

By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer

BATON - The Rev. Clifton Black thought a message about coping with change was most appropriate for today's sermon.

Mountain Grove Baptist Church, where Black has been preaching for more than 20 years, is embroiled in a $1.9 million lawsuit with a former contractor, which last week stirred a flurry of rumors that the church was closing.

A week ago, an e-mail from a church member circulated throughout the community claiming that Mountain Grove was being padlocked, and local newspapers reported that the congregation may be forced to move from the building.

Some members were skeptical that the doors of the sanctuary would even open today.

"The possibility of having to start everything over is just sad," said longtime member Chris Smith. "A lot of people were fearful (but) hopeful that something that would work out."

But pastors at the 4,000-member church, site of former Caldwell County Sheriff Gary Clark's funeral this month and one of the largest in the county, said that the rumors that Mountain Grove is closing its doors have been just that - rumors.

"Regardless of what you might have read, we will have all of our services here at Mountain Grove this Sunday," Black said in an e-mail sent to the congregation last week. "We still have lots of options ahead of us, so do not despair."

Pastors at the church say they have received numerous calls from members and others, offering support. A church in Hickory even offered to share worship space with Mountain Grove's congregation.

"It's wonderful when you know people are praying for you," said women's minister Jan Chester. "A lot of it is the encouragement that people are giving the staff."

What isn't rumor is the judgment against Mountain Grove, which said the church owes David Gray, a former contractor from Lenoir, for the new sanctuary and gymnasium he finished building in 2000.

On Wednesday, a judge upheld a June ruling that the church would have to pay Gray $865,835 plus interest and attorney and courts fees, all totaling more than $1.9 million. The church plans to appeal.

Meanwhile, Black and others say the ordeal is, in some ways, making the church stronger.

"Everyone thinks the lawsuit is negative, but it's actually uniting people and bringing new people in," Black said. "These are positive things developing out of something that is negative."

Members of the church, which runs a food pantry, substance abuse programs and other outreach programs, say they'd miss the building, but the real connection to Mountain Grove is through the people.

"I've never been anywhere else like it," said Rick Harris, who plays drums in the church's praise band. "(We'd) just have to get a new building. It will work itself out."

In March 1996, Black signed a $2.2 million contract with Gray's company, White Fox Construction, to build a new sanctuary that would hold 2,000 people and accommodate the thriving congregation. During construction, which began a few months later, the church leaders made a few changes in the building plans and asked that a new gym also be added, increasing costs by $817,614, according to the lawsuit.

Gray claims the church left a balance of more than $865,000, which he had to absorb, according to court documents.

The church, however, says it paid all it was required to - a few hundred thousand dollars to subcontractors and more than $2 million to White Fox.

Gray sued in January 2004.

But Gray said the money he lost forced him to dissolve White Fox Construction, a Granite Falls-based business he owned for more than 22 years.

"It's been one of the biggest struggles of my life," Gray said. "I was obviously very disappointed to close my business, and it's had some negative emotional ramifications with my family." He now works for another contractor.

Both sides say they hope to reach a settlement, but, at this point, they appear far apart.

Meanwhile, Black and his congregation are staying optimistic.

"We're doing awesome," Black said. "Worst-case scenario, we lose this building. We're a church for people, and we'll continue to be Mountain Grove Church, even if it isn't on this site."


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