Court revives dispute over church donations

PONTIAC (AP) — A Detroit-area couple is getting another opportunity to challenge a church over what it did with more than $41,000 in donations.

Eugene and Jeanette Rogers want a refund, saying St. John United Methodist Church in Pontiac didn’t use their donations for a fellowship hall as promised.

Eugene Rogers was chairman of the church’s governing board for many years.

The Michigan Court of Appeals last week reversed a decision in favor of the church.

The court says it’s a dispute about money, and it doesn’t require a judge to analyze religious doctrine.

The case now will return to Oakland County court.

In 2015, the Rev. Lester Magnum said the fund didn’t exist for a specific construction project.