Plano, TX- An African American church, in a predominantly white side of town, filed a religious discrimination lawsuit today against the Wichita County Appraisal District.
In the lawsuit, the Full Gospel Powerhouse Church of God in Christ accuses the appraisal district of violating the Constitution by denying them tax exempt status on property, while granting it to other churches in the same geographical area and under the same circumstances.
“Full Gospel Powerhouse Church is suffering unequal treatment,” said Hiram Sasser, director of litigation for Liberty Legal Institute. “It is shameful that the appraisal district is trying to tax this church out of existence.”
Shortly after the Full Gospel Powerhouse Church moved to their new location, the church sanctuary burnt down. During the last three years while the church has not had a building on the property, they had been required by the appraisal district to pay taxes on the land, despite their tax-exempt status.
“The church burned, and they tried to rebuild. Right when they had the money to rebuild for themselves, the tax collector swooped down and grabbed it,” Sasser said.
Other churches in the area have not been penalized and taxed for unused land in the city.
“This lawsuit should send a message loud and clear. If they are picking on a little African American church today, what is stopping them for picking on any church they do not like tomorrow?" Sasser said.