SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Members of Save Historic St. Andrew's Church were praying for a miracle to save their beloved church.
What they got isn't exactly what you'd call a miracle, but they say, at least it’s something.
"Anything that puts off demolition is a good thing,” group member Tom Goldstein says.
Goldstein and other members of the group got the call Monday morning that the Minnesota court of appeals is considering whether to take their case and has decided to halt demolition until a decision is made.
"We're obviously on pins and needles," Goldstein says.
The group filed the appeal after a district judge decided they'd hear the case, but only if the group would pay a $2 million bond.
That was the amount of money the Twin Cities German Immersion School argued it’s losing by slowing down the project.
The judge gave the group until 2:00 p.m. Monday to come up with the money.
According to the Save Historic St. Andrew’s Church GoFundMe Page, the group has only raised about $10,000, well short of that $2 million requirement.
But that deadline has now been “unofficially” extended until the appeals court decides whether to take the case.
Goldstein says the appeals court could make a decision as early as Tuesday.
"It's at least an acknowledgement that they have the appeal and they haven't rejected it outright, which we feel is at least a small victory," Goldstein says.
If they take up the case, the church will be protected until the court makes a final ruling.
If they don't take up the case, bulldozers could theoretically come in right away and tear the church down.
School board members with the German immersion school say they're still waiting for a demolition permit, so it's unlikely the church will be torn down this week regardless of what happens in the courts.
The Twin Cities German Immersion School bought the church six years ago and is using it as a gym and cafeteria for their students.
School board members want to tear it down and build something bigger to accommodate a growing number of students.
Board members say the appeals process has been expedited to accommodate their unique situation, but they still don’t know how long the process will take.
The school was originally hoping to demolish the church back in June and says it’s costing them thousands of dollars for every week the project is put on hold.
Meanwhile, those on the other side plan to keep praying for that miracle.
"This doesn't have to be the result and that's sort of the nature of a tragedy is when something happens that doesn't have to happen," Goldstein says.