Global Vision Bible Church has relocated to a new campus in Wilson County on property without zoning that allows for church use.
However, the county doesn't plan to prohibit Pastor Greg Locke's congregation from continuing to meet at 3764 Murfreesboro Road, where Global Vision began meeting Aug. 9.
Global Vision's new home is an approximate 10-acre property on Murfreesboro Road that was rezoned in 2022 to light industrial for bus repair use, Wilson County Planning Director Christopher Lawless said. Global Vision moved several miles from 1010 Maddox Simpson Parkway in Lebanon since Dec. 1, 2024 through a lease agreement.
Locke had also told his congregation there was a mattress warehouse use on the property, not far from Cedars of Lebanon State
Park.
The Murfreesboro Road property was previously owned and used by Landmark Pentecostal church from 1998 to 2022. Landmark Pentecostal sold the property in 2022 to the current owner, planning department records show.
“I don’t have an issue with (Global Vision) operating as a church,” Lawless said. “It has a historical operation as a church and I don’t see an issue operating as a church again. It’s surrounded by other commercial properties and it’s not in a residential area.”
Efforts to reach Locke about whether Global Vision would formally seek zoning allowance for the new location were unsuccessful.
Lawless was not aware of any church use request being denied by Wilson County’s board of appeals in the director’s 12-plus years with the county.
Lawless will reach out to Global Vision about approvals that may be needed if the church seeks any parking lot enhancements or expansion.
Global Vision has had multiple locations and became established under Locke in western Wilson County at 2060 Old Lebanon Dirt Road, where the church utilized a large white tent in later years until moving .
Wilson County filed a lawsuit against Global Vision several years ago that alleged work was done on the Old Lebanon Dirt Road campus without site plan approval, building permits and land disturbance permits. The lawsuit remains active, Wilson County Attorney Mike Jennings said.
Global Vision still owns the property on Old Lebanon Dirt Road, according to Wilson County property assessor records.
Locke’s home and another location related to the church were the subject of a search by IRS agents several weeks ago, which the pastor addressed in a July 12 church service, according to the Wilson County Sheriff's Office.
The pastor said the raid was part of a nearly two-year-long investigation into accusations of financial mismanagement in his leadership at Global Vision, which Locke has described as unwarranted.
Locke has 2.2 million Facebook followers and has gained national attention for social media posts with right-wing political positions, a mass-deliverance ministry that includes casting out evil spirits and events like inviting people to burn items the church relates to the occult.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why Tennessee pastor Greg Locke’s church doesn't need zoning for new campus
