Court rules for congregation in property dispute

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Court of Appeals of Maryland has ruled in favor of a minister who broke away from the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, saying his new congregation has the right to keep church property.

“Consent to holding property in trust during the course of affiliation does not automatically constitute consent to relinquishing that property once the affiliation terminates,” wrote Chief Judge Robert M. Bell in a unanimous decision by the seven-member panel.