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A legal dispute over control of Immanuel Baptist Church in Monticello will now be decided in Drew County, as a federal judge has ruled the case should return to local court.
According to reporting by Frank Lockwood, Religion Editor at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, U.S. District Judge Brian S. Miller recently granted a motion to remand the case back to Drew County Circuit Court, where it was originally filed in January.
At the center of the dispute is Timothy Lavon Rodgers, a Texas builder who became involved with the church in recent years. The case involves control over church property, including the building, surrounding land, and approximately $100,000 currently held in a court registry pending the outcome of the litigation.
The lawsuit, filed by longtime members of the congregation, alleges Rodgers exceeded his authority after initially offering to assist the church and explore opening a Christian school. Members claim he began asserting control without proper approval, including actions such as adding and removing members, calling meetings, and attempting to assume leadership roles within the church.
The suit further alleges Rodgers changed the locks on the church, preventing trustees and members from holding services, and took steps to name himself pastor and move toward closing the church.
Rodgers has denied wrongdoing, maintaining in court filings that his actions were consistent with the church’s constitution and bylaws. He has also argued that matters involving church governance are ecclesiastical in nature and should not be decided by civil courts.
In recent months, the case has grown increasingly complex. Rodgers’ attorneys have withdrawn from representation, and he is now representing himself in court. According to reporting from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Rodgers has prior felony theft convictions from 2006 in Faulkner County. A guilty plea in Circuit Court resulted in a sentence of 60 months probation and Rodgers was ordered to pay more than $31,000 in restitution.
Meanwhile, Commercial Bank & Trust Co. filed a separate lawsuit citing uncertainty over who controls the church’s accounts. A judge ordered the funds to be held by the court until the dispute is resolved.
Despite the legal battle, a small group of church members continues to meet for worship. Attendance dropped to as few as seven participants earlier this year, but members report a recent increase, with around 25 people gathering on Palm Sunday. Services have continued even amid difficult conditions. At one point, utilities were disrupted, leaving the building without running water and limiting normal use of the facility.
The dispute comes as Immanuel Baptist has experienced a significant decline in attendance over the past decade. Once a thriving congregation, participation has steadily decreased, particularly after the departure of its previous pastor in 2024.
The case also highlights the independent structure of Baptist churches. As noted by the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, each congregation governs its own leadership, membership, and property decisions without oversight from a higher authority.
Attorneys representing the church members say they are preparing for the next phase of the case in Drew County Circuit Court, where a hearing on a temporary restraining order could take place in the near future.
