PENDLETON — A church may need to step in to settle the dispute between MyTime Fitness club owners and their landlord.

Even if MyTime Fitness raises enough money to pay back a loan, the club cannot keep its fitness equipment, building owner Chuck Clevenger said.

Clevenger has criticized club owner Phil Holden for accepting money from club members, who have been trying to raise money so the club could relocate instead of close down.

“It’s unethical and un-biblical,” Clevenger said. “To accept people’s money like this without them knowing all the facts, I consider deception.”

At issue is an outstanding $85,000 loan for fitness equipment at the club gym. Clevenger said the equipment belongs to him, and he plans to auction off the equipment to pay back the loan.

Currently, he does not plan to let club members pay off the loan, buy the equipment or participate in the auction. However, he said he was willing to talk about the possibility with Holden through a conversation mediated by their church leaders.

MyTime Fitness is scheduled to close May 24, because Clevenger is ending the lease agreement more than eight years early. Holden made the official announcement on April 7.

Shortly afterward, club members organized to help the business relocate. Members are asking 170 people to commit to $500 one-year memberships and pay in advance. This would generate enough money to pay back the $85,000 loan. Members had pledged about $50,000 as of earlier in the week, Holden said.

Anyone who pays for a one-year membership will get his money back if the club cannot reopen at a new location, Holden said.

Clevenger has criticized this plan because it is not the arrangement he and Holden reached after meeting with leaders of their church to facilitate a discussion several months ago.

They agreed to auction off the equipment to pay back the loan. They did not mention the possibility of letting club members raise money to pay back the loan so Holden could keep the equipment, Clevenger said.

When asked what the difference would be if club members bought the equipment or if another company bought the equipment, Clevenger reiterated that the church agreement was to auction off the equipment, and the agreement did not mention the possibility of club members raising money.

Holden should not accept money from people who do not know all the facts, Clevenger said. MyTime Fitness was late on many of its lease payments and owed back rent, he said.

Clevenger has accused the fitness club of owing money but has not said how much and has not made any attempt to collect the money. Last week, Clevenger did not want to discuss any financial aspects of his business arrangement with the club but has since changed his mind. He just refuses to mention specifics.

Holden has admitted he got a little behind with some lease payments during the few years after the club’s 2001 opening.