Baptist News Global
Sections
  • News
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Curated
  • Storytelling
    • Faith & Justice >
      • Charleston: Metanoia with Bill Stanfield
      • Charlotte: QC Family Tree with Greg and Helms Jarrell
      • Little Rock: Judge Wendell Griffen
      • North Carolina: Conetoe
    • Welcoming the Stranger >
      • Lost Boys of Sudan: St. John’s Baptist Charlotte
      • Awakening to Immigrant Justice: Myers Park Baptist Church
      • Hospitality on the corner: Gaston Christian Center
    • Signature Ministries >
      • Jake Hall: Gospel Gothic, Music and Radio
    • Singing Our Faith >
      • Hymns for a Lifetime: Ken Wilson and Knollwood Baptist Church
      • Norfolk Street Choir
    • Resilient Rural America >
      • Alabama: Perry County
      • Texas: Hidalgo County
      • Arkansas Delta
      • Southeast Kentucky
  • More
    • Contact
    • About
    • Donate
    • Associated Baptist Press Foundation
    • Planned Giving
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Advertising
    • Ministry Jobs and More
    • Transitions
    • Subscribe
    • Submissions and Permissions
Donate Subscribe
Search Search this site

Federal judge dismisses second lawsuit challenging Glorieta sale

NewsBob Allen  |  January 3, 2019

A federal judge in New Mexico recently rejected an Arkansas couple’s second attempt to void the 2013 sale of Glorieta Conference Center by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Senior District Judge Robert C. Brack of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico determined in a ruling Dec. 19 that a 2017 lawsuit filed by Kirk and Susie Tompkins claiming bad faith by Southern Baptist leaders essentially rehashes claims settled in a previous suit filed by the couple in 2013.

On Dec. 21 the Tompkinses filed notice of appeal to the 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, the same court that in 2016 upheld a lower court’s dismissal of the previous lawsuit on procedural grounds.

The couple, who owned a vacation home on property leased from Glorieta, challenged legality of the sale of the 2,400-acre retreat center near Santa Fe opened by Southern Baptists in 1952 for $1 in a lawsuit originally filed in September 2013. U.S. District Judge James O. Browning dismissed the lawsuit in a judgment later upheld by the appellate court.

They filed a second lawsuit in April 2017 claiming the ground lease between them and Glorieta was an “unconscionable” contract under New Mexico law. Brack, assigned as trial judge in the case in October, however, said that claim is barred by a legal doctrine called “preclusion,” which prevents a plaintiff from relitigating a case already decided by the courts.

Their appeal was added to the docket of the 10th Circuit Dec. 26. The couple must file an opening brief within 40 days.

LifeWay officials claimed unloading the retreat center was necessary because it was losing money and in need of costly deferred maintenance. The current owners of what is now called Glorieta Adventures Camps have clashed with county officials over building permits, water use and environmental safety.

Kirk Tompkins, who prepared both cases without aid from a lawyer, has tried, with little success, to air his grievances from the floor of annual meetings of the Southern Baptist Convention. As recently as Dec. 3 he sent out a circular criticizing Southern Baptists for “procrastinating on stopping LifeWay’s alleged mishandling, debasement and alleged illegal conveyance of this hallowed ground.”

Previous stories:

Couple seeks to revive lawsuit against LifeWay’s sale of Glorieta conference center

Couple continues legal fight against Glorieta sale

Appeals court rejects challenge to Glorieta sale

Lawyer says Glorieta lawsuit should be revived

Glorieta homeowner seeks day in court

Tags:LifeWay Christian ResourcesGlorietaLitigationKirk Tompkins
More by
Bob Allen
  • Get BNG headlines in your inbox

  • Featured

    • Despite financial hardships, Americans upped their giving to congregations during pandemic

      News

    • What The Bear should teach us about the church and genuine acceptance

      Opinion

    • Veterans and faith groups urge Congress to secure the safety of Afghan immigrants

      News

    • The fantastical world of climate change denial: Slouching toward annihilation

      Opinion


    Curated

    • Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf signs executive order to protect LGBTQIA+ community from conversion therapy

      Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf signs executive order to protect LGBTQIA+ community from conversion therapy

      August 19, 2022
    • Archaeologists uncover inscription to Peter

      Archaeologists uncover inscription to Peter

      August 19, 2022
    • USDA says religious schools will be granted automatic Title IX exemption

      USDA says religious schools will be granted automatic Title IX exemption

      August 19, 2022
    • Attack on Rushdie shows divisions among Lebanese Shiites

      Attack on Rushdie shows divisions among Lebanese Shiites

      August 19, 2022
    Read Next:

    BGCT wants to ‘review and consider changes’ in its relationship to Baylor

    AnalysisMark Wingfield

    More Articles

    • All
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Curated
    • Mohler to speak on the ‘idolatry’ of secularism at conference advocating ‘national conservatism’

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Faith leaders call for urgent opposition to Oklahoma plan to execute an inmate a month for two years

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • This week is the 80th anniversary of the day my great-grandparents died

      OpinionJonathan Feldstein

    • When my dad asked me to preach a revival in his church, I took a crew of encouragers instead

      OpinionEli Withers

    • India at 75: The world’s largest democracy is dying of toxic nationalism

      AnalysisErich Bridges

    • The congregational staffing crisis

      OpinionBill Wilson

    • Progressive National Baptist Convention elects woman to leadership role for first time

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • 50 years later, I’m still embarrassed to admit what a stranger at church taught me about being welcome

      OpinionTerry Austin

    • Is ‘In God We Trust’ an assertion of Christian nationalism or of American history in public schools?

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • What The Bear should teach us about the church and genuine acceptance

      OpinionJustin Cox

    • Despite financial hardships, Americans upped their giving to congregations during pandemic

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • More questions than answers right now regarding DOJ investigation into SBC

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Carver School of Social Work was a victim of American fundamentalism, authors explain

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Looking for hope in a time of abandonment

      OpinionBill Leonard, Senior Columnist

    • BGCT wants to ‘review and consider changes’ in its relationship to Baylor

      AnalysisMark Wingfield

    • My two phone calls to Frederick Buechner

      OpinionBrett Younger

    • Ministry jobs and more

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • Hymn stories: ‘The Church’s One Foundation’

      OpinionBeverly A. Howard

    • Veterans and faith groups urge Congress to secure the safety of Afghan immigrants

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • The fantastical world of climate change denial: Slouching toward annihilation

      OpinionRodney Kennedy

    • When forced to choose between their ministry and their transgender child, this family chose love

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Remembering a sign for the times: The serpent and the seminary

      OpinionDalen Jackson

    • Frederick Buechner influenced millions with his insightful writing and quotable lines

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • No, Dan Patrick, God did not write the U.S. Constitution

      OpinionRick Pidcock

    • Black religion and reparation questions

      OpinionWendell Griffen

    • Mohler to speak on the ‘idolatry’ of secularism at conference advocating ‘national conservatism’

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Faith leaders call for urgent opposition to Oklahoma plan to execute an inmate a month for two years

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Progressive National Baptist Convention elects woman to leadership role for first time

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Is ‘In God We Trust’ an assertion of Christian nationalism or of American history in public schools?

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Despite financial hardships, Americans upped their giving to congregations during pandemic

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • More questions than answers right now regarding DOJ investigation into SBC

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Carver School of Social Work was a victim of American fundamentalism, authors explain

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Ministry jobs and more

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • Veterans and faith groups urge Congress to secure the safety of Afghan immigrants

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • When forced to choose between their ministry and their transgender child, this family chose love

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Frederick Buechner influenced millions with his insightful writing and quotable lines

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Progressive National Convention joins with AFL-CIO to advance racial and economic justice

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Historic Kentucky church calls gay man as co-pastor

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Department of Justice investigating SBC on sexual abuse

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • ‘Everything is changing at the same time,’ veteran religion reporter explains

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Tony and Lauren Dungy know something about influence, on the field and at home

      NewsMaina Mwaura

    • It’s easier to be a bully today, author explains

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Transitions for the week of 8-12-22

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • SBC president says he tried to enlist more women for sexual abuse task force but got turned down repeatedly

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • At long last, Trump’s ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy appears to be dead

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Some evangelical leaders see FBI visit to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago as evidence of the religious persecution coming to them

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • New study finds scammers luring migrants with false information via Facebook and WhatsApp

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Progressive Baptist congregation on Wake Forest campus votes to close

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Ministry jobs and more

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • South African women’s soccer team success shines a light on gender wage discrimination

      NewsAnthony Akaeze

    • This week is the 80th anniversary of the day my great-grandparents died

      OpinionJonathan Feldstein

    • When my dad asked me to preach a revival in his church, I took a crew of encouragers instead

      OpinionEli Withers

    • The congregational staffing crisis

      OpinionBill Wilson

    • 50 years later, I’m still embarrassed to admit what a stranger at church taught me about being welcome

      OpinionTerry Austin

    • What The Bear should teach us about the church and genuine acceptance

      OpinionJustin Cox

    • Looking for hope in a time of abandonment

      OpinionBill Leonard, Senior Columnist

    • My two phone calls to Frederick Buechner

      OpinionBrett Younger

    • Hymn stories: ‘The Church’s One Foundation’

      OpinionBeverly A. Howard

    • The fantastical world of climate change denial: Slouching toward annihilation

      OpinionRodney Kennedy

    • Remembering a sign for the times: The serpent and the seminary

      OpinionDalen Jackson

    • No, Dan Patrick, God did not write the U.S. Constitution

      OpinionRick Pidcock

    • Black religion and reparation questions

      OpinionWendell Griffen

    • What happened to American conservatism? Engaging Matthew Continetti’s The Right

      OpinionDavid Gushee, Senior Columnist

    • Skepticism holds seeds of hope: The SBC and clergy sex abuse

      OpinionChrista Brown

    • Here’s what I’m learning in therapy

      OpinionMark Wingfield

    • Letter to the Editor: I also stand with Brittney Griner and kneel for the Anthem

      OpinionLetters to the Editor

    • A thoughtful question at Bubba-Doo’s

      OpinionCharles Qualls

    • In applauding Victor Orban, U.S. conservatives call their shot

      OpinionRodney Kennedy

    • Christian nationalism is a danger to our nation

      OpinionMarvin McMickle

    • Advice from a sunflower

      OpinionPhawnda Moore

    • What I learned at Wake Forest Baptist Church

      OpinionDavid Ramsey

    • Why can’t we accept sexual and gender diversity in humans as well as in all creation?

      OpinionDan McGee

    • I’ve been unaware of my privilege, and if you are a man, you probably have, too

      OpinionRobert P. Sellers

    • Are left-wing radicals pushing Cracker Barrel to the edge of the slippery slope?

      OpinionBrett Younger

    • To be more welcoming, let’s remove our flags

      OpinionJustin Pierson

    • Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf signs executive order to protect LGBTQIA+ community from conversion therapy

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Archaeologists uncover inscription to Peter

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • USDA says religious schools will be granted automatic Title IX exemption

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Attack on Rushdie shows divisions among Lebanese Shiites

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Report: Nonreligious LGBTQ people face heightened stigma, conceal their beliefs

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Interfaith summit dreams of America as a potluck, not a battlefield

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Empowered by Magic: The Christians and “Nones” Exploring Witchcraft

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Faith-Based Fashion Entrepreneurs Aim To Transform The Way We Purchase Online

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Lag in slavery reparations from US Jesuits irks descendants

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Texas school district orders librarians to remove a version of Anne Frank’s diary from shelves

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Iran denies involvement but justifies Salman Rushdie attack

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Non-affirming views continue to complicate HIV/AIDS response in Black churches

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Sometimes dialogue is not the answer and neutrality is a trap: an interview with the authors of ‘The Neutrality Trap’

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • In latest ‘gOD-Talk’ discussion, Black millennials discuss hip-hop and faith

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Colorado to spar over discrimination case in Supreme Court

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Crossing the rubicon? Mar-a-Lago raid enflames right wing fantasies of Christian Caesarism

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • An interfaith discussion on the role of religion in mental health

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Republicans keep mostly mum on calls to make GOP ‘party of Christian nationalism’

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • The Faith-Based Politics of El Salvador’s Millennial President

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Reckoning with their history, Lutherans issue declaration to Indigenous peoples

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Religion, Spirituality Second Most Frequently Read Genre in U.S.

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Pope Francis meets transgender guests of Rome church

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Politicians seek to control classroom discussions about slavery in the US

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Despite vastly different values, evangelical ‘Hamilton’ connects secular left and Christian right

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Both Open- and Close-mindedness Increase in U.S.

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    Conversations that Matter.

    © 2022 Baptist News Global. All rights reserved.

    Want to share a story? We hope you will! Read our republishing, terms of use and privacy policies here.

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • RSS