Embroiled in foreclosureproceedings that stretch back to 2008, Evangelical Christian CreditUnion is still in the middle of a legal fight against was once oneof Florida's largest churches.

In the latest round in the commercial real estate saga, the $1billion EvangelicalChristian in Brea, Calif., filed a Dec. 31 motionrequesting a ruling seeking foreclosure of Without WallsInternational Church in Lakeland, Fla., according to clerk ofcounty records in Polk County, Fla. At press time, a judge had notissued a ruling on that motion.

Meanwhile, on Feb. 3, a judge approved a motion filed by Anthony& Partners, the Tampa, Fla.-based law firm representing WithoutWalls, to withdraw its counsel services, citing irreconcilabledifferences, court records showed. The church also requested 30days to seek new attorneys.

Despite the recent legal moves, Without Walls has continued tocollect fines for code violations for broken windows, deterioratinglight poles and fences and missing roof sections, according tolocal media reports. At last count, the church had accrued $4,500in fines and is being assessed $100 each day until the repairs aremade. The property, which has sat dormant since August 2011, stillowes a $32,000 utility bill, records show.

Without Walls initially went into foreclosure in 2008 owingEvangelical Christian $13.9 million, which was due in September2012. In 2009, the credit union approved a mortgage modificationfor the church.

Without Walls filed a complaint in October 2012 againstEvangelical Christian seeking more than $23.8 million with claimsthat the credit union acted inappropriately towards the church'sfounder, Randy White, by allowing his ex-wife, Paula White, to takemore than $2 million worth of video and music equipment from thechurch to use for her own ministry, according to local mediareports. Paula White was hired as senior pastor at a church inOrlando.

The Without Walls complaint also said Evangelical Christianallegedly made false statements about the church in order to thwarta deal initiated by Randy White to sell the property.

In the summer of 2013, Without Walls was up for sale for $14.75million, according to real estate filings. The property, which has63 acres and houses the 9,600-seat church, was initially bought in2005 for $8 million.

A comment from Evangelical Christian was not available.

In a 2009 article titled “Crisis and Faith” featured in aleadership education publication from Duke University, MarkHolbrook, president of Evangelical Christian, offered his take onthe growing number of church foreclosures.

“Certainly, this is unprecedented in our history,” Holbrooksaid. “Because of the grace factor, churches tend to put off harddecisions,” he added referring to how some churches may see theirsoured financials as a sign of wavering spiritual faith.

On a separate matter, earlier this month, Holbrook toldCredit Union Times Washington Reporter Nicholas Ballasythat NCUA's proposed risk-basedcapital rule would hurt Evangelical Christian's businessmodel.

Holbrook said at 14%, the capital requirement for credit unionswith a concentration in member business loans is too high andhigher than the threshold for commercial banks. He worried that theproposed risk-based capital rule would send Evangelical Christianfrom being a well-capitalized credit union into undercapitalizedterritory overnight.