Discord in the pews
Demolition plans fracture Chamblee church's unity

By MARCIA LANGHENRY
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/07/05

These days Atlanta Unity Church in Chamblee is anything but unified.

Church leaders have issued an ultimatum to 10 members who have publicly opposed the church's plan to tear down a landmark building.

[picture on right by Kimberly Smith/AJC- Atlanta Unity Church members John Enge and Barbara McInturff oppose church plans to raze Fischer Mansion (in back).]

The dissenters have been called to a closed hearing tonight to explain their behavior on behalf of the Fischer Mansion.

At issue since last summer is a 1920s-era neoclassical house designed by famed Atlanta architect Philip T. Shutze. The house is located along Nancy Creek on Chamblee Dunwoody Road.

"It's really a situation of authoritarian leadership that just has not been open to suggestions. That's our feeling," said John Enge, one of the 10 members.

Church Board President Dottie Lee said trustees are not trying to stifle free speech, nor will they tear down the building without consent of the 350-member congregation.

"Our intent is just to get past this and get back to what we go to church for each Sunday," Lee said.

In a letter, Lee told members they should resign from outside preservation group Save the Mansion and commit to the internal church policy on conflict resolution titled "Agreeing and Disagreeing in Love," adopted in January.

The recent actions are designed to speed up a decision on historic status, which stalled nine months ago, Lee said.

"This has been a real difficult, painful time for our church and congregation," she said.

On Friday, the church applied to DeKalb County for a demolition permit, setting in motion a 60-day review of an application from preservationists for historic designation, said DeKalb County historic preservation planner David Cullison.

Historic or hindrance?

The rift began in June 2004 when the church announced plans to demolish the financially draining Fischer Mansion, sometimes known as "Flowerland," and replace it with a modular learning center.

Clifton Mack, who is not a member of the church, responded by applying for historic designation protection.

The church has accused Mack and the preservationists of dragging their feet in providing additional information requested by DeKalb County.

More information was requested, but there was no deadline for its receipt, Cullison said.

The church threatened to sue the preservationists for interfering with its "right to enjoyment of its private property," in an April 1 letter from its attorney, David Flint.

Since the dispute began, the church has lost revenue for the first time in several years. It has also lost a few members to both sides of the controversy, ee said.

The Fischer Mansion

The two-story, white-columned brick residence was built in the mid-1920s by Dr. Luther C. Fischer, co-founder of Crawford Long Hospital, for his wife, Lucy Hurt Fischer, daughter of Dr. C. D. Hurt and niece of Atlanta developer Joel Hurt. She was also a descendant of Crawford Long. The rose gardens attracted weekend visitors from Atlanta in the '30s.

It was later purchased by Frania Lee, who was once married to Texas billionaire H.L. Hunt. She sold it to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese in 1957 and it housed D'Youville Academy, a private girls school run by the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart.

Atlanta Unity, which began as a study group in Atlanta in 1924, became a church in 1965, when it was located on Ponce de Leon Avenue. The church purchased Flowerland in 1978 and used the mansion for services until it built a new sanctuary on the grounds in 1985.

Today the mansion's windows are boarded up, shot out by vandals, said Kathi Hanley, church executive director.A study in 2004 showed the building needs $750,000 in improvements, not including removal of mold and asbestos, Hanley said.

Members' dilemma

Eight of the 10 members summoned to tonight's hearing were still wrestling with their decision Tuesday. One member had resigned from Save the Mansion and another had resigned from the church, according to Enge.

In letters dated March 21, church trustees told the members that if they did not resign from Save the Mansion and agree to abide by church policy, they would not be welcome at the church.

Enge, 71, has been an active member of the church for 11 years. If his membership is revoked, he would still be allowed to attend church services but would not be able to hold a leadership position, Enge said.

The idea of the church "quieting" him has unsettled him, he said.

"[I think] I would have to keep my mouth shut in church," Enge said. "It's muting the TV as far as I'm concerned. Right now I sit in church and get all these glares like we're common criminals and we're not."