Megachurch

A North Carolina megachurch bought a $2.1 million site for a 1,200-seat campus, but the county denied rezoning over traffic and tax base concerns, leading to a federal lawsuit under religious land-use law.

Dauphin Way Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama, which had 8,000 members when it moved to its 19-acre campus in 1988, has listed the property for $28.5 million as membership falls to about 600.

Venue Church in Chattanooga defaulted on payments on its main campus, owing more than $2 million to lender Hal Properties, and the building was set for a courthouse auction months after a scandal involving its pastor.

Church of the Highlands bought 17 acres near Alabaster, Alabama, in two mortgage-free deals worth about $2.25 million, including a former golf driving range, to give a congregation now meeting in a school a permanent home.

First Baptist Church of Jacksonville decided to sell most of its 10-block, 1.5 million-square-foot downtown campus after attendance fell from about 10,000 to 3,200 and facility costs reached more than half its budget.

Crossings Community Church dropped plans to buy First Christian Church of Oklahoma City’s historic building after the total cost rose above $20 million, saying it would conflict with its 60-year commitment to avoid long-term debt.