Uncivil War

Like most worshipers at both churches, the affable Chelmagan is sick of the dissension that marked his last years at Elim.

"I go to church to praise God," he says. "I don't go to church to show how tough I am, or how much power I have, or to be angry at everyone around me."

Paolo Vescia

RMS Titanic , Inc.

Emanuel Farkas with his wife, Margareta, and daughter Eva at their Glendale home.

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Chelmagan is asked to point out his parents in the makeshift congregation at the gym. "Oh, they're still going to Elim," he says. "I just needed a fresh start."

Dorin Druhora apparently has told some ex-Elim members that he'd consider coming back to lead the new church. Not likely, says Leo Isfan, who was one of the pastor's most fervent supporters.

"He's not in our picture," Isfan says. "I feel betrayed because Dorin left us. I do regret many things that happened when he was pastor, as I told Pastor Lascau over there. Dorin made mistakes, but he did have a vision that worked for a long time. I think we should just look forward."

He adds, "Maybe one day, the people still at Elim will drive over to our gym church, and say, 'Let's be friends again.' Maybe. But maybe not."

A few months ago, Elim's new board finally hired a new pastor, Petru Lascau. Lascau moved here in October from Chicago, where he'd headed the 1,000-strong Philadelphia Church of God for more than 15 years.

A courteous, articulate man, Lascau says he's well aware of what he stepped into.

"I have come to a church in turmoil," he says. "There still is turmoil in a lot of hearts. Everything I've done was a picnic to what I have here. But when I was called to my church in Chicago, it also was in turmoil. I began to think that God sent for me, from his remodeling department. I realized then, like I do now, that I have to win these people over. People buy you first, then your ideas. To a Romanian, attitude is more important than the words themselves."

Lascau sighs.

"Sometimes, you have to forgive and forget," he says.

Another pause, then a wry chuckle.

"That's easy for me to say."

Editor's note: Some interviews for this story were done through a translator, Nicole Oprea.