Congregants of the Born Again Christian Center showed up to church services earlier this month to find the church doors locked.
The building had been sold -- by members of the former pastor's family, according to a lawsuit filed by one of the angry church members, who says the church building and a nearby home, all church property, have been unlawfully put on the market.
Andre Harris, the former pastor, and his wife Gloria Harris lived in a home at 871 Weeks Street in East Palo Alto that's been sold. The church next door is still available for nearly $1 million, the Palo Alto Daily News reported.
Church deacon Arthel Coleman is suing the Andre and Gloria Harris, and Andre Harris's brother, Kenneth, a real estate agent, for selling the properties without permission from the church, the newspaper reported.
Kenneth Harris declined comment when contact by the newspaper.
The church is essentially controlled by the Harris family: The church's four-member board is all Harris family members, the newspaper reported.
