Fort Wayne Church Under Fire for its Records

A Fort Wayne Baptist church is being sued by some of its members for not showing its records. 

 The Pilgrim Baptist church is under fire after  allegedly suspending some of its trustees.

The church, located on Fort Wayne's south-east side is being sued by five its members. 

Court documents say that the churches pastor Rev. Sam Shade Jr.  asked the board of trustees for money on multiple occasions to fix the roof on his personal house.

The trustees denied the reverends request and were later suspended.   

The documents go on to say, "Church representatives suspended several church trustees without the consent or approval of a majority of the churches members.

Indiana law requires the majority of church members to approve the suspension of its trustees, unless the church's bylaws say otherwise.

When the trustees went to look at the bylaws, "The church refused to allow plaintiffs to inspect and/or copy the requested corporate records, according to court documents. 

Indiana law also makes it mandatory for churches to allow access to access to its bylaws.

WFFT stopped by Rev. Shade's home and were invited inside but he declined to comment on the lawsuit. 

The trustees then asked to see the churches financial records but were shut down, according to court documents. 

The trustees are asking for the return of their attorney fees and for the court to rule against the church, allowing them to access those records so they can find out if money was indeed diverted to make repairs on the reverend's home.