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Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Widow Wants Return of Big Church Donation

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CN) - A widow claims an evangelical church refuses to return her $184,000 investment for property that the church never bought. And the widow, a parishioner, adds that the pastor of Christ the Rock International appears to be planning to move to Alaska without accounting for her money, and more.

Carole Reed sued Christ the Rock International Inc. in Palm Beach County Court. She also sued its head pastor Perry E. Comas and his wife, Karen Comas, who is vice president and secretary of the church in Boca Raton.

Reed, who is retired, says she has been going to Christ the Rock church for 10 years.

In 2007, she gave $184,080.68 to the church building fund so Christ the Rock could buy a church, instead of having to lease one.

"In or about 2007, Perry told the CRI [Christ the Rock International] congregation, including Carole, that he secured an option to purchase real property and a church situated thereon ... that was then owned by The Korean Church of Boca Raton ... ('KCBR')," according to the complaint.

The property was priced at $350,000, and the church needed more money for the option to buy, Reed says.

"Beginning in 2007 through March 2011, CRI, by and through Perry, attempted to raise additional funds to exercise the option and purchase the property; however, as of March 2011, CRI was unable to raise the necessary funds to secure the purchase of the property, and the property was subsequently sold to a third party," the complaint states.

"Upon the sale of the property by KCBR to said third party, KCBR made payment to CRI in the amount of no less than $350,000 to satisfy the mortgage," the complaint states.

Reed adds: "Perry initially stated he would consider refunding Carole her building fund contribution, but to date, Perry has refused and otherwise ignored Carole's request for a return of her building fund contribution.

"Additionally, over the past several months, CRI has lost the majority of its parishioners and it does not appear to be a viable going concern.

"Over the previous month, Perry has made numerous statements to various parishioners of CRI that he intends to relocate to Alaska in the near future; however, he has yet accounted [sic] to Carole or the parishioners of CRI for the funds received from KCBR."

Reed wants her money back. She alleges breach of verbal contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and conspiracy to breach fiduciary duty.

She is represented by Thomas Graner of Boca Raton.

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