The Nashville church whose bookstore is at the center of a major tax-exemption test case has submitted its appeal against a ruling that could cost it hundreds of thousands of dollars and impact church ministry across the country.

Christ Church filed an appeal in the Davidson County Chancery Court, in January, against a decision by the Tennessee State Board of Equalization that it needs to pay property taxes on its For His Glory store, run in the church's family life center.

The appeal is based on the argument that the church facilities at issue "are integrally related to the religious mission of the church and as such should be considered tax exempt," said Erik Stanley, senior legal counsel at the Alliance Defense Fund, which is representing the church.

The case is seen as having widespread constitutional implications for other churches and ministries. "A corollary will be that the court and judges must give deference to the church's articulation of its religious purposes and mission and how these amenities relate. They cannot second-guess what the church is saying," Stanley said.

A December report on the case in Christian Retailing magazine had helped raise awareness and "much support," said Christ Church Administrator Linda Hilliard. "I do believe the area churches realize just how serious this can be to the future of their bookstores." 

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