Church May Be Expelled from Meeting Place

Antioch Bible Church, one of the largest congregations in the Seattle, Wash., area may have to find a new place to meet after the local teacher's union asked school officials at Lake Washington High School to stop renting to the church, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported.

Rev. Ken Hutcherson, pastor of the church, has led a congregation of more than 3,500 people every Sunday for six years in the local school to avoid having a mortgage. But, now the teacher's union wants to sever ties with Hutcherson, well-known for his conservative views. "The Lake Washington Education Association strongly condemns the bigoted views of Dr. Ken Hutcherson," wrote union president Kevin Teeley in a recent newsletter. Teeley, who is openly gay, said allowing the church to use school property implies the district condones Hutcherson's beliefs.

State law requires school districts to allow community groups to use their buildings during off hours — and currently at least ten other churches in the area rent district facilities for services. (from Pastor's Weekly Briefing, June 17, 2005 - a ministry of Focus on the Family)