MICHELLE A. SAMAAD | Credit Union Times |
“Without Walls International Church has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in an ongoing foreclosure dispute with the $1 billion Evangelical Christian Credit Union.
The Tampa, Fla.-based mega church filed on March 5 owing $29 million to Evangelical Christian, according to local media reports. The church had defaulted on its loans prior to the bankruptcy filing. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court denied the credit union’s Dec. 31, 2013 request to move forward on a foreclosure case that began in October 2012.
An immediate comment was not available from Evangelical Christian in Brea, Calif. Michael Hooi, an attorney representing the church, told the Tampa Bay Times another hearing is scheduled for April when the court may schedule a trial to address any unresolved matters.
In its bankruptcy petition, Without Walls said it had an estimated $10 million to $50 million in liabilities and assets.
Without Walls initially went into foreclosure in 2008 owing Evangelical Christian $13.9 million, which was due in September 2012. In 2009, the credit union approved a mortgage modification for the church.”