The church’s pastor said they would need anywhere from $1.5 to $2 million to fix the ongoing issues, some outdated.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Sitting on top of Grove Street in Downtown Fort Worth is Mount Gilead Baptist Church, a piece of Black history dating back more than a century. At 113 years old, it’s one of the city’s oldest Black churches.
“This is why they call it the diamond in the sky,” said longtime member Ernest Mackey.
But now, that diamond may soon be sold.
Church leaders listed the historic building for $3 million. Mackey claimed the move was made without proper input. He plans to file an injunction to stop the sale, arguing that church leadership has made a serious misstep.
“I wake up at night sweating, trying to figure out what we’re going to do next,” Mackey said.
This isn’t the first time the future of the church has been in limbo. Mackey said a similar sale attempt failed back in 2016.
“This is the place that everybody in town would like to have,” he said.
Current Pastor Lorenzo Jones IV says the decision to sell wasn’t taken lightly but was necessary.
“This was indeed an unsustainable situation that we are in,” Jones said.
Jones said there are numerous structural and safety issues in the building, including lead paint, a partially collapsed roof and non-functioning air conditioning. He also cites a decline in membership, making it difficult to support the church financially.
According to Jones, the congregation voted 19 to 4 in favor of selling the church. The executive board, made up of six members, moved forward based on that vote.
If sold, Jones said the money will be used exclusively to build a new church for the congregation.
“I think it gives us the opportunity to have a fresh start,” he said.
For Mackey, though, starting over means leaving behind more than just bricks and mortar.
“This church means everything to me,” he said. “And I’m not ready to let that go.”