Religious groups to file brief in suit pitting church, pork producer

Guymon-AP) -- A judge says six statewide religious groups can file a friend-of-the court brief in support of a church battling pork producer Seaboard Farms. The Bethel Church of God and the state are

Friday, January 21st 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Guymon-AP) -- A judge says six statewide religious groups can file a friend-of-the court brief in support of a church battling pork producer Seaboard Farms. The Bethel Church of God and the state are fighting Seaboard's plan to operate a 25-thousand head sow farm in Beaver County near the Kansas border. The farm would also be near the church.

The groups being allowed to file the brief include the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma, the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma, the Arkansas/Oklahoma Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in American, the Indian Nations Presbytery (Presbyterian Church U.S.A.) and the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference to the United Church of Christ. State Attorney General Drew Edmondson says a court case ruling against Bethel church could potentially affect other churches.