The First Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling denying a preliminary injunction for a Maine church against the University of Maine System (UMS) for unlawful discrimination during a property sale. Since the litigation is still in a preliminary stage, the case will return to the lower court to undergo the discovery phase and a trial on the merits to determine a permanent ruling.

In Calvary Chapel Belfast v. University of Maine System, Liberty Counsel represents the church arguing that UMS discriminated against it when rescinding the church’s winning bid in a property sale because of its Christian beliefs.

In November 2024, the church sought an injunction after UMS rescinded the church’s winning bid for the Hutchinson Center building due to public, legislative, and donor outcry over its Christian beliefs. Liberty Counsel argues that UMS officials deviated from its bidding procedures, accepted invalid appeals from the losing bidders, and cited relocating an Internet hub from the building as a “cost-avoidance deficiency” as the reason for rescinding the initial award. Subsequently, UMS held a second, rigged bidding process that awarded the building to a secular bidder. 

Calvary Chapel Belfast is likely to prevail on its Equal Protection and Free Exercise claims, wrote Liberty Counsel. Under the Equal Protection and Free Exercise Clauses, state actions must act neutrally toward religious beliefs.

The litigation seeks to restore the church as the rightful awardee from UMS’ first, non-discriminatory bidding process.

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, “Calvary Chapel Belfast rightfully won the University of Maine System’s first bidding process, and this litigation will continue in the district court. The church participated in the bidding process in good faith, but UMS then unlawfully rescinded their winning bid due to its religious beliefs after community backlash but under the excuse of procedural deficiencies. Such discrimination is unlawful, and an injunction is necessary to restore the church’s bid award and stop these unconstitutional actions.”