Church says it’s facing bankruptcy

An Episcopalian church in Washington, D.C. about one mile northwest of the White House says it is facing bankruptcy. That’s because a city department halted construction on a seven-story, 56-unit multifamily housing unit-and-church building. 

Construction on St. Thomas’ Parish’s new home was about 60 percent complete when the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs recently issued a stop-work order. Several Washington news outlets reported the decision came after a D.C. Court of Appeals decision sent the project back to a district zoning panel.

In order to raise the finances to replace its original building that burned down, St. Thomas was partnering with a private developer on the housing units.  

Rev. Alex Dryer said the suspension is costing the church “thousands of dollars” per day. A congregation of 150 members, on its website the church says it draws attendees from the surrounding metro area and reflects the LGBT community in Washington.

In a statement, Dyer called it “truly shocking that our church is being targeted by the DCRA and a small group of citizens . . . A vacant construction site benefits no one.”