-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UPNLFN7TXHx6D/d8QBtA0JhiXoFLKRlaT/10a9WLI6nmdpIqYgXpVqw9rDZAyOGN
 RyaE3NJ5IKjDBOUe5wKAzQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000020199-05-000028.txt : 20051117
<SEC-HEADER>0000020199-05-000028.hdr.sgml : 20051117
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051117153332
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000020199-05-000028
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051117
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051117
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051117

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FOWLER ROBERT
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001232016

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-08117
		FILM NUMBER:		051212642

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7329 TARRYTOWN AVE
		CITY:			AMARILLO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			79121
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8063520318

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHURCH LOANS & INVESTMENTS TRUST
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000020199
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				756030254
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TX
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5305 I-40 W
		CITY:			AMARILLO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			79106
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8063583666

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 8203
		CITY:			AMARILLO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			79106
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-11-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000020199</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHURCH LOANS &amp; INVESTMENTS TRUST</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>unassigned</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001232016</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FOWLER ROBERT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7629 TARRYTOWN AVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>AMARILLO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>79121-1729</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Shares of Beneficial Interest</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-11-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3042</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.3</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8218</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Spousal IRA</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Held by spouse in IRA</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert E. Fowler</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-11-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----