Some members of a Queens Village church say they no longer feel welcome in their longtime spiritual home because the pastor refuses to leave.

"This was a loving church. Come in and be loved. There is no love here," said Dolores Knight, a member of the board of trustees and the treasurer at New Covenant Church of Christ in Queens Village.

A member of New Covenant Church of Christ in for 45 years, Knight never thought she'd feel that way about her house of worship.

"I grew up in this church, married, baptized family, everything," she said.

Now, Knight and other members of the church's board of trustees are in a legal battle to remove the interim acting pastor, Senior Minister the Rev. Alvin L. Mills.

The process to remove Mills from his post began in late 2015. Board members say Mills refused to leave even though his verbal contract with the church’s previous pastor, Dr. Rev. Muriel Johnson-Providence, having expired.

"At first, we tried to negotiate it as we sat down and we tried to resolve what the issues were without going to a legality point. That didnt work," said Anthony Jefferson, a member of the board of trustees at New Covenant Church of Christ.

Among the accusations made in court documents, the board says Mills "listed the church's parsonage for sale" without board approval and took "monies from the buyers in the form of down payment."

"Some people think that the pastor can do what they want to do. People need to be knowlegdable. That's the sad part about this all. The bylaws govern your church," said Tracey Leach, a member of New Covenant Church of Christ for the last 21 years.

Since taking the case to court, parishioners say Mills has taken additional measures to restrict their church access.

"Having security at the door. Locking all the locks," said Knight.

"You have police presence at a house of worship, which is really outrageous. The people here are not violent," Jefferson said.

According to an NYPD spokesperson, police have responded to the church at least three times in the last five weeks. The NYPD says that on two of those occasions, a complaint was filed, but with the pastor listed as the victim of harassment.

Board members say they are not alone in their fight.

"It's time for him to step down," said church member Thomas Roberts.

"I need some peace on Sunday morning," said his wife, Dorian Roberts.

A congreagation vote calling for Mills' removal was held at Sunday services earlier this month.

"The vote was held, 77 to leave, seven to stay," Leach told NY1.

NY1 reached out to Mills and his attorney for comment but did not get a response.