Ex-Owner Regains Open Door Church

The Church of the Open Door regained title to a disputed landmark downtown Los Angeles church today and promised to evict flamboyant television preacher Gene Scott “if necessary.”

The development--the latest round in continuing battle over the fate of the Hope Street church--came after Scott’s attorney predicted that the controversial evangelist “can have services in here as long as he wants” because of legal and political tangles that could tie up the property’s fate for some time.

Scott is expected to proceed with services Sunday.

The building’s future has been in doubt since Scott’s Wescott Christian Center defaulted on its $23-million contract to buy the property from the Church of the Open Door, which was relying on Scott’s payments to purchase a new facility in Glendora.

Foreclosure Sale

Ownership of the church, known for its neon “Jesus Saves” signs, reverted to the Glendora-based Church of the Open Door after a foreclosure sale. The Church of the Open Door and its partner on the Hope Street property, the Rainbow Hotel, put in the sole bid of $17.6 million, the amount that Scott owed on the property. But because the bid was made by the property’s owner, the Glendora church took back control without any money changing hands.

Officials of the Church of the Open Door said they were not surprised that the auction attracted no interest. Developers were probably discouraged from bidding because the fate of the church--and the value of the property--has been clouded by lawsuits and political maneuvering initiated by the politically connected Scott, who has vowed to save the Italian Renaissance edifice from destruction.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Geraldine Mund on Wednesday declared Scott’s latest stratagem a “reprehensible” abuse of the legal process. She rejected the church’s attempt to deed the property to a for-profit corporation headed by Scott’s attorney, Edward Masry. That corporation immediately filed for protection under federal bankruptcy law.

In addition to the bankruptcy court decision, Wescott lost a bid in Superior Court on Wednesday to recoup its $6.5-million down payment on the Hope Street property. Wescott has indicated that it will refile an amended suit.

Monument Maneuver

Masry said Scott will press his effort to have the building declared a historical monument--a move that could prevent demolition and greatly devalue the site because it would be less attractive to commercial developers. Scott has enlisted City Councilman Gilbert W. Lindsay as an ally in his effort.

Masry also indicated that Scott has no intention of vacating the building soon.

The Church of the Open Door is “very grateful” to have title back, associate pastor Dale Wolery said today. “Now we have some equity and justice.”

The Church of the Open Door will next try to persuade the City Council to go along with demolition of the building and try to clear away litigation tied to the property.

“If necessary,” Wolery said, “we will evict Wescott Christian Center.”