Eleven congregations that broke away from The Episcopal Church celebrated a court ruling this past week that supported their efforts to keep church properties.
Judge Randy I. Bellows of Fairfax County Circuit Court ruled Thursday that the 11 churches could pursue their case under Virginia's "division statute," which grants property to departing congregations when there is division within the denomination.
Citing hundreds of churches across the country that are involved in disputes within The Episcopal Church, the judge wrote in his opinion letter that evidence of a division within the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, the national body and the global Anglican Communion "is not only compelling, but overwhelming."
"The only way in which this Court could find a 'division' not to exist among the pertinent entities in this case is to define the term so narrowly and restrictively as to effectively define the term out of existence," Bellows wrote in his summary.
The judge concluded that the division statute applies in the case of the 11 congregations "walking apart" from the national body.
“We are pleased with this initial victory today," said Jim Oakes, vice chairman of the Anglican District of Virginia, a conservative association of which the 11 churches are members. "We have maintained all along that The Episcopal Church and Diocese of Virginia had no legal right to our property because the Virginia Division Statute says that the majority of the church is entitled to its property when there is a division within the denomination. Our churches' own trustees hold title for the benefit of the congregations."
The Virginia Diocese, however, continues to maintain that the departure of the 11 congregations does not constitute a division.
The diocese sued the congregations after they overwhelmingly voted in 2006 to sever ties over what they contend is The Episcopal Church's departure from Christian orthodoxy and traditional Anglicanism. It is reportedly the largest lawsuit in the history of The Episcopal Church – the U.S. branch of Anglicanism – which had widened rifts in 2003 when it consecrated an openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson.
In a statement following Thursday's ruling, the Diocese of Virginia said "it is simply wrong" to allow those who left The Episcopal Church to "continue to occupy Episcopal Church property while loyal Episcopalians are forced to worship elsewhere."
The diocese, which is arguing that the church properties were held in trust by the congregations for The Episcopal Church, is set to argue in May that the Virginia law on the division of property is unconstitutional, in part because it interferes with church laws governing property ownership, as reported by The New York Times.
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, head of The Episcopal Church, said she was disappointed by the ruling and believes the court's conclusion that the division statute applies to the current situation "is incorrect."
Meanwhile, the breakaway congregations hope the court's decision will be respected.
“We urge our friends in the Diocese of Virginia and The Episcopal Church to respect the court’s ruling and join with us to begin a process of healing," said Oakes of the Anglican District of Virginia. "These are also the wishes of the worldwide Anglican Communion, as prolonging this process – pitting Christian against Christian in court – does nothing to save one soul, strengthen one family, or help one person in need. Let us choose healing over litigation and peaceful co-existence over lawsuits, and let us devote all our resources to serving Christ and helping others around the world.”
RSS
And Satan won this one.
Satan did not have to make them physically attack each other but just place bits of lies and doubt here and there and then wait for it to grow and the division to emerge.
This rift is leading into a fatal schism of the 77 million worldwide Anglican Church, and thus Satan is rolling around on the ground laughing its head off
CFElect, I couldn't agree with you more! This is more about a struggle over power and property than orthodoxy. The rules of the Episcopal Church are set. Anyone can leave, but the property is entrusted to the Diocese and the National Church, that's what make them "Episcopal" and not congregational. Sorry.
Actually, whether you agree with the Episcopal Church in the US or not, the Episcopal Church has a clear rule against churches exiting the denomination with their property. They were given the right to go forward with their suit in court (should followers of the Lamb really sue anyway?). They were NOT awarded the properties.
But ya gotta love the reasoning of some of these break away groups...the property is the MOST important thing in remaining faithful to the Bible? Even more than appearing to those outside of Christianity as acting like the world? Come on folks...Jesus calls us to a higher standard. This stuff sounds a lot like the political workings of the world...nothing to do with the Kingdom of God.
Let the Episcopal Church have the properties. If the folks who have left the Epsicopal Church feel that what they have done is God's will, then God will take care of them..fancy, multi-million dollar church property or not. In fact, it might just be better if all those buildings used for worship were leveled and a return to primitive Christianity was made..."and they went from house to house..."
Jesusis1,
Since the liberal infiltrators of historic denominations sue! Ask yourself who moved from the historic doctrines of the Anglican Church? Was it the rank and file of these conservative congregations who gave thier tithes and offerings or the Marxists liftists who don't believe that Jesus is God incarnate?
It seems to me that the Diocese that continues to try to change the Word of God are the divisionists! Not the people that faithfully showed up in church every week thinking that they were in a denomination that followed the Bible.
Katharine Jefferts Schori along with her followers should be rebuked and impeached (or whatever it is they do in the Episcopal chruch). Next thing you know, she will be accepting adultery, lying and stealing.
Katharine, just because you decide to accept something doesn't mean that God accepts it. The agenda you are pushing is wrong and it won't matter how many people you get to agree with you, it will STILL be wrong in the eyes of God!
I pray that God would open up your eyes to the truth or take you out of the position you are in as you drag half a denomination down with you.
Pablo