Pownal's Church Ownership Saga: A Taxpayer's Nightmare of Constitutional Proportions

In a small Vermont town, local officials are burning through taxpayer money to wage a bizarre legal battle over a 230-year-old church.

The Quotes That Tell the Real Story

"We're taking that [church] property, or we're finding out what our options are to take the property." — Pownal Selectperson

"I went to Sunday school in the basement!" — Selectboard Chair, showing this is deeply personal, not just a legal matter

The Shocking Admission of Confusion

Town officials have essentially admitted they have no idea what they're doing. Consider these jaw-dropping statements:

• Town Counsel Bob Fisher: “It’s not like you have an absolute fresh deed on this that says the town owns it.”

  (4/25/24, 56:44)

• Pownal Executive Assistant: "I have not had a lot of luck [researching ownership]… I'm very confused of how that agreement works."

• Yet, later stated: "we own the church and that it’s at the church groups pleasure to use it how they see fit.” (12/28/23, 18:26)

• Selectperson: We didn’t get the grant because it [the church] wasn’t in our ownership.”

  Assistant replied: “Yeah.” (12/28/23, 20:55

• Selectboard Chair: "I don't think there's a definitive answer that anyone can give us on who owns the church property."

• Town Liaison: "we don’t have the power to force the church building itself to be used for community involvement since we don’t own it.”

Despite the confusion, the town proceeded to aggressively fight for ownership of this church building in court, with YOUR money. This isn't cheap and it gets worse:

The Constitutional Minefield

This isn't just a local squabble – it's a potential violation of fundamental constitutional rights. The town is attempting to:

• Claim ownership of an active Christian church

• Then offer a $1 per year, 99-year lease to ONLY one Christian congregation

• Use taxpayer money to fight in court with no clear evidence of ownership other than "we want it"

The idea that the town should have ownership of an active Christian church, is an arrangement that is explicitly prohibited under both the U.S. Constitution and the Vermont Constitution:

⦁ U.S. Constitution — First Amendment (Establishment Clause).

⦁ Vermont Constitution — Chapter I, Article 3 (Compelled Support Clause); Chapter I, Article 7 (Common Benefits Clause).:

The Exciting Twist

A town committee established to determine the fate of the old town office has made a surprising discovery: the town has no clear proof of ownership of the land. With limited resources to manage the property, the committee's findings have left the town's plans for the old office in limbo.

Notably, the town has yet to release the committee's report, which appears to contradict the town's current stance in a separate dispute with the local church. In that dispute, the town has argued that it should take on the role of landlord for the church's property. The committee's findings, however, suggest that the town may not have the capacity or even the ownership rights to do so.

Selectboard public comments reveal the true motivation:

"The church is an absolute iconic building in the town... From my own personal view... it definitely has the potential to be a drawing card."

"my kids were baptized there!.”

“I’ve got a vested interest, I guess so.”

Translation: This isn't about ownership. This is about control.

The Potential Consequences

If the town wins:

• The church congregation leaves

• Taxpayers foot the bill for repairs and maintenance of a 230-year-old building

• Potential lawsuits from residents challenging unconstitutional actions

The Latest Development

January 16, 2026 Update: In a judicial smackdown, Judge Barra delivers a knockout punch to Pownal's legal fantasy, roundly rejecting the town's desperate attempt to get this lawsuit dismissed. The town's response? Double down and charge forward – because apparently, burning through taxpayer money is a spectator sport in Pownal.

A Satirical Warning

"If you live in Pownal, you might want to start treating Sunday service like municipal business, because when your town fights this hard to own a church, you may as well grab a pew and enjoy the taxpayer-funded blessings."

Why This Matters

This isn't just about one church or one town. It's about:

• Protecting constitutional rights

• Preventing government overreach

• Ensuring responsible use of taxpayer funds