Neighbor Church Doesn't Want To Help Pay Half Of Our Shared Fence

Hi friends,

Tldr: (location: Lane County Oregon) I share a length of fence with a church that ignored my request to go halfsies on a new fence 2 years ago. The aging fence fell down earlier this year and I had to quickly have a fence built because dogs. I asked the church again if they would go halfsies and they not only declined, but said I was unreasonable for asking. Not sure what to do next. *If* I'm understanding ors 96.010 correctly, the church should be helping with half of the fence costs. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Long version:

In summer 2024 after fixing my aging fence several times a year for multiple years in a row I was getting tired. I assume the fence was built back in 1999 when the house was built, but I can't confirm. Anyway, I sent a message via Facebook to the church that I share the length of fence with asking them if they would go halfsies on a new fence with me. They responded weeks later, but completely ignored my question and only addressed my concerns about coming onto their property to fix said fence. I messaged them again about helping with purchasing a new fence with me and they read my message but didn't respond.

Fast forward to March/April 2026. The aging fence finally took a dookie and fell over. I needed to act quick because I have 2 corgis, so I got a couple quotes and went with the cheaper folks. Before I had the fence built I called the church and left a message, as well as an email to them asking for help. No response. So I had the fence built and put it on my credit card.

I emailed and called again in June, and no response. So in July I emailed again and added a link to ORS 96.010 about sharing the costs of the fence. This must have struck a nerve and I got an email back saying I was being unreasonable for asking to go halfsies on a fence, that I didn't understand the law, and that I shouldn't have "torn down" the old fence without their "permission" to turn around and build a new fence. I reminded them that the fence fell over after years of me fixing it myself. They responded that it's a myth that churches have a lot of money (um, I never said or implied they did) so I responded I'd make the same request with any of my neighbors I share a fence with. We went back and forth via email for a hot minute. I was never demanding or a jerk about it, I even said please a couple times.

Well, that got me nowhere and the church stopped responding when I said I was seeking legal advice. So here I am, reddit. What should I do next? Is it even worth it to see if a judge in small claims court would help a girl out? If not, can I legally paint whatever I want on my fence that I fully paid for?

Thanks all.