The Region : Church Fails to Halt Sale

Television evangelist Eugene Scott’s Westcott Christian Center failed to halt foreclosure proceedings against its historic Hope Street church, once known as the Church of the Open Door, which has become mired in a dispute over a 1919 deed restriction purportedly preventing sale of the property. Westcott officials, who have held back more than $7 million in payments, argued unsuccessfully for a preliminary injunction blocking a foreclosure sale, expected in March. Leaders of the Church of the Open Door congregation, which sold the downtown property, say they may be unable to make payments on their new church site in Glendora unless Westcott meets its purchase obligations. Although the Glendora church leadership claims that the 1919 trust on its historic “Jesus Saves” property is no longer in effect, Scott’s lawyers say Westcott has been unable to obtain financing because of the uncertainty and said they will appeal Superior Court Judge Ricardo A. Torres’ ruling.