the courts.

The move is the latest in the battle between the congregation of Grace Methodist Church on North Shore Road, Pembroke, and the Synod of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of Bermuda over the church.

Headed by lay minister Willard Lightbourne, the congregation announced last week it planned to file a writ against the Synod in an attempt to prevent it from taking control of the church.

The writ was filed in the Supreme Court this week.

The record also showed the Synod was counter-suing Mr. Lightbourne.

When contacted yesterday, Mr. Lightbourne said he had no idea when a hearing would be held to resolve the issue. But he stressed he planned to continue on at the church.

Synod lawyer Sen. Lawrence Scott said he was reluctant to make a comment about the writ.

"I am reluctant to make a comment because it is a sensitive matter because it involves a church,'' Mr. Scott said. "I don't want to add fuel to the fire.''