John Belcher, Elizabeth Sykes, Katie McCain, and Joel Stampley recently represented Amy Grant and various members of the Burton family in the case, which was recently settled in Davidson County Chancery Court.
“After a six-year court battle, the downtown Central Church of Christ, rebranded in recent years at the Nashville Church of Christ, is back under control of the family of its founder.
Singer Amy Grant and her cousin Andy Burton led the charge to regain the organization and its original property. Their goal was to honor and to restore the legacy of the church created generations earlier by A.M. Burton in 1925. For decades, the institution was an important resource in multiple ways for some of Nashville’s poorest citizens.
A judge ruled earlier this month that under the leadership of Shawn Mathis, the church violated a conditional limitation of the original deed, which meant the property reverted to the A.M. Burton estate. Mathis took control in 2019 and his time in charge included a dramatic decrease in church membership, questionable business practices and allegations of mismanagement that attracted the attention of the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office.” – source Nashville Banner
Watch a recent video series about the case here.
How Amy Grant and the Burton Family Regained Control of Central Church of Christ
Other articles about the case:
Christian Pop Star Wins Battle Over Nashville Church Takeover
After a Church Takeover in Nashville, a Christian Pop Star Fights Back
Christian pop star Amy Grant, family set to regain control of downtown Nashville church
Nashville lawsuit between Amy Grant, downtown church settled. Here’s who won
