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In the News

Md. breakaway congregations turn to lawmakers in fight to keep church assets

Legislators in both houses of the Maryland General Assembly seek to repeal a little-known 1976 law that gives the denomination legal authority over the properties of its local congregations.

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Barbara Kenney-Dorsey of Warren Community Church in Mount Airy, said that she and fellow members have been ordered out of by the national Methodist leadership. The church is reflected in her sunglasses.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

The Rev. Douglas Sands, right, stands in the cemetery of White Rock Church in Carroll County as Clayonia Colbert-Dorsey mends her family's burial monument. Sands and his congregants are trying to guard their 143-year-old church from seizure by the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church, the presiding body for the District and parts of Maryland and West Virginia.

The Rev. Douglas Sands, right, stands in the cemetery of White Rock Church in Carroll County as Clayonia Colbert-Dorsey mends her family's burial monument. Sands and his congregants are trying to guard their 143-year-old church from seizure by the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church, the presiding body for the District and parts of Maryland and West Virginia.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Irene Gassaway, left, and Hamilton Snowden, members of White Rock Church, have been ordered out of their building by the national Methodist leadership. Late last year when members announced that they were breaking away, the United Methodist Church ordered the congregation out of the building and threatened to take control of White Rock’s assets.

Irene Gassaway, left, and Hamilton Snowden, members of White Rock Church, have been ordered out of their building by the national Methodist leadership. Late last year when members announced that they were breaking away, the United Methodist Church ordered the congregation out of the building and threatened to take control of White Rock’s assets.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

The Rev. Douglas Sands, center left, leads members of White Rock Church in prayer before a meeting. “We aren’t going to let anybody take it,” he said<strong>. “</strong>I don’t care if I only have two members in here. We’re going to be here.”

The Rev. Douglas Sands, center left, leads members of White Rock Church in prayer before a meeting. “We aren’t going to let anybody take it,” he said. “I don’t care if I only have two members in here. We’re going to be here.”

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

A collage of snapshots depicting past events at Warren Community Church.

A collage of snapshots depicting past events at Warren Community Church.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Members of White Rock church put together programs for the next service.From left are Robin Coleman, Clayonia Colbert-Dorsey, Joyce Hudson and Jackie Thomas.

Members of White Rock church put together programs for the next service.From left are Robin Coleman, Clayonia Colbert-Dorsey, Joyce Hudson and Jackie Thomas.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Clayonia Colbert-Dorsey of Gaithersburg holds a historic photo of church forebears. “I’m the fifth generation of my family to worship at White Rock,” said Colbert-Dorsey, who drives an hour each way every Sunday to services.

Clayonia Colbert-Dorsey of Gaithersburg holds a historic photo of church forebears. “I’m the fifth generation of my family to worship at White Rock,” said Colbert-Dorsey, who drives an hour each way every Sunday to services.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Colbert-Dorsey hangs a picture outside the chapel at White Rock Church.

Colbert-Dorsey hangs a picture outside the chapel at White Rock Church.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Robert Gassaway Jr., chairman of the board at White Rock Church, attends a meeting.

Robert Gassaway Jr., chairman of the board at White Rock Church, attends a meeting.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

The Rev. Douglas Sands tries to make out a name on one of the ancient tombstones in the church cemetery. Sands, a retired elder with the United Methodist Church who has pastored several congregations, said White Rock’s struggle started in early November, when they disaffiliated.

The Rev. Douglas Sands tries to make out a name on one of the ancient tombstones in the church cemetery. Sands, a retired elder with the United Methodist Church who has pastored several congregations, said White Rock’s struggle started in early November, when they disaffiliated.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

The Rev. Ernest Thomas, pastor of Warren Community Church, said he was notified last year that his church’s assets were being seized and that the congregation should vacate the property. He recently found out that his church, which has been designated a historic landmark, is listed for sale for $75,000.

The Rev. Ernest Thomas, pastor of Warren Community Church, said he was notified last year that his church’s assets were being seized and that the congregation should vacate the property. He recently found out that his church, which has been designated a historic landmark, is listed for sale for $75,000.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

FEATURED PHOTO GALLERIES

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 21: Statues on display on the Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden in The Great Pavilion at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show on May 21, 2013 in London, England. The Chelsea Flower Show run by the RHS celebrates its 100th birthday this year. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

Photos of the day

Chelsea Flower Show, face transplant in Poland, Oklahoma residents cope with tornado aftermath and more.

Lea Bessinger salvages a picture of Jesus as she and her son Josh Bessinger sort through the rubble of the elder Bessinger's tornado-ravaged home Tuesday, May 21, 2013, in Moore, Okla. A huge tornado roared through the Oklahoma City suburb Monday, flattening an entire neighborhoods and destroying an elementary school with a direct blow as children and teachers huddled against winds. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Tornado near Oklahoma City causes more damage

Rescue workers are searching for survivors after a twister carved a long path of destruction in a suburb of Oklahoma City. It was part of the...

ANNAPOLIS, MD - MAY 20: The Herndon Monument Climb is the traditional culmination of plebe year at the United States Naval Academy. The plebes climb to the top of the lard-covered 21 foot high monument and remove the 'dixie cup' hat at the top replacing it with an upperclassman's hat. After completing this, the freshmen are called 'fourth class midshipmen.' This class completed the task in 1 hour 32 minutes and 43 seconds. The hat was placed by Patrick Lien from Orlando. (Photo by Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)

The Herndon Climb

The Herndon Monument climb is the traditional culmination of plebe year at the U.S. Naval Academy.

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 21: Ken Marino, Erica Oyama, Ben Stiller, Chris Harrison, and Mike Rosenstein aceept the Webby Award for 'Burning Love' at the 17th Annual Webby Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on May 21, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for The Webby Awards)

Eye on entertainment

Ben Stiller, Jerry Seinfeld, Emma Stone, Chainz, Tyrese Gibson, Susan Boyle and more.

This combination of Associated Press photos shows left, a neighborhood in Moore, Okla., in ruins on Tuesday, May 4, 1999, after a tornado flattened many houses and buildings in central Oklahoma, and right, flattened houses in Moore on Monday, May 20, 2013. Monday's powerful tornado in suburban Oklahoma City loosely followed the path of a killer twister that slammed the region in May 1999. (AP Photo)

Okla. tornado loosely followed path of 1999 twister

Monday’s powerful tornado in suburban Oklahoma City loosely followed the path of a killer twister that slammed the area in May 1999.

A Burrowing owl tries to perch on a protective rope in a public park in Cooper City, Fla. Monday, May 20, 2013 as rain falls. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Fun and fascinating creatures around the world.

FILE - In this undated publicity file photo, members of the Doors, from left, John Densmore, Robbie Krieger, Ray Manzarek and Jim Morrison, pose for a portrait. Manzarek, the keyboardist who was a founding member of The Doors, has died at 74. Publicist Heidi Robinson-Fitzgerald says in a news release that Manzarek died Monday, May 20, 2013, at the RoMed Clinic in Rosenheim, Germany, surrounded by his family. (AP Photo, File)

Ray Manzarek, founding member of the Doors, dies at 74

Manzarek co-founded the Doors after meeting then-poet Jim Morrison in California. The band went on to become one of the most successful rock-and-roll...

A man walks on sulphur and mineral salt formations near Dallol in the Danakil Depression, northern Ethiopia April 22, 2013. The Danakil Depression in Ethiopia is one of the hottest and harshest environments on earth, with an average annual temperature of 94 degrees Fahrenheit (34.4 Celsius). For centuries, merchants have travelled there with caravans of camels to collect salt from the surface of the vast desert basin. The mineral is extracted and shaped into slabs, then loaded onto the animals before being transported back across the desert so that it can be sold around the country. Picture taken April 22, 2013. REUTERS/Siegfried Modola (ETHIOPIA - Tags: BUSINESS SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

ATTENTION EDITORS: PICTURE 2 OF 30 FOR PACKAGE 'ETHIOPIA'S ANCIENT SALT TRAIL'
SEARCH 'DANAKIL DEPRESSION' FOR ALL

Ethiopia’s salt trail

For centuries, merchants have traveled to Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression with caravans of camels to collect salt from the surface of the vast desert basin. The mineral is extracted...

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