CHICAGO – Forty members of Chicago's Christian Love Mission Baptist Church, an independent Baptist congregation, are seeking to remove the church's pastor from his position.
Named plaintiffs, including T'Kayah Anthony, Kimberly Barnes, Patricia Barnes ad others, filed a complaint on Nov. 7 in Cook County Circuit Court against Melech E.M. Thomas seeking equitable relief.
According to the complaint, on March 11, Thomas was installed as the new pastor of plaintiffs' church after the death of the previous longtime pastor. The plaintiffs allege defendant immediately removed members of the existing leadership and selected friends and family members to serve as board members and officers of the church and allege that his actions have "destroyed unity" within the church.
The suit states the plaintiffs represent two-thirds of the church's active members.
The plaintiffs seek a declaration that they are entitled to custody and control of the church's financial assets, records and books, that Thomas is not a pastor of the church and that a special meeting of the church must be held.
The plaintiffs seek a declaration and injunctive relief, and other relief. They are represented by Whitman H. Brisky and Terry S. Lu of Mauck & Baker LLC in Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court case number 18-CH-13926