FIRST ON WWAY UPDATE: Church drops request to rent Topsail HS facilities

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A Pender County church has changed course on its request to rent facilities at Topsail High School, which had raised some concerns from the community.

WWAY reported last month that Renovation Church had asked to rent two gyms, a classroom and the Performing Arts Center at the school to hold its services. The church, which has been renting space at Topsail Middle School the last two years says it needed more space as its congregation has grown. But some parents were concerned about who would get priority to the space. The church said the school’s students would come first, and that it has a history of working with other groups who share space at the middle school.

Topsail’s principal reportedly denied the church’s request to use the performing arts center because of possible interference with academic issues, but Renovation appealed to the school board.

According to board minutes from an April 20 school board meeting, the church appealed the denial. The board passed the appeal unanimously. That led to an appeal hearing scheduled for this coming Monday. That hearing has been canceled after the church withdrew its request.