Appeals court lets UMaine move forward with church-related Hutchinson Center sale dispute

On June 30, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit rejected Calvary Chapel Belfast’s bid to stop the University of Maine System from moving forward with a restarted process involving the Frederick Hutchinson Center in Belfast, Maine.

Calvary Chapel, a church, argued the university’s decision to cancel the church’s initial winning bid and reopen the procurement process was driven by unconstitutional religious bias. The appeals court affirmed the district court’s decision denying Calvary’s emergency requests for a temporary restraining order (TRO) and a preliminary injunction, meaning the underlying lawsuit can continue without halting the sale process.

What set off the dispute

According to the appellate opinion, during a competitive bid process in summer 2024, the University of Maine System selected Calvary Chapel Belfast as the winning bidder for the Hutchinson Center property, a former educational campus in Belfast. After “two administrative appeals” by disappointed bidders, the university concluded that its evaluative criteria were flawed and cancelled the award to Calvary, then began a new procurement process.

In the second round, the university ultimately awarded the bid to Calvary’s competitor, Waldo Community Action Partners. Calvary then turned to federal court, asking judges to block further steps in the sale while the church pursued its broader constitutional claims.

What the appeals court decided

The First Circuit did not decide the final merits of Calvary’s allegations. Instead, it reviewed whether the lower court correctly denied the church’s emergency request for injunction-style relief.

The appeals court focused on one key requirement for a preliminary injunction: whether Calvary showed a likelihood of success on its Equal Protection Clause and Free Exercise Clause claims. The court concluded the district court applied the correct legal standards and made no clear error in its fact findings, including its conclusion that Calvary did not present enough evidence of impermissible religious bias to justify stopping the sale process.

What happens next

With the emergency relief denial upheld, the case returns to the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine for further proceedings while the sale process continues. Reporting on the decision says the district judge is expected to issue a scheduling order covering discovery and trial-related steps.

Why this matters beyond Belfast

The ruling is a reminder that when religious organizations challenge government procurement decisions, winning emergency relief is difficult without evidence that directly links alleged bias to the decisionmaking at issue—rather than relying mainly on controversy surrounding the outcome. For public universities and other government entities, the case also underscores the importance of consistent procurement records and documented rationales, especially when a religious bidder is involved.

Sources

• U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (Opinion, Calvary Chapel Belfast v. University of Maine System, No. 25-1452)
• Portland Press Herald (July 1, 2026)
• WABI-TV (July 2, 2026)
• University of Maine System announcement authorizing the Hutchinson Center sale (July 15, 2024)