(VA) Episcopal parishes awarded property, assets

Washington Times link ^

[Gopher Broke]

Episcopal parishes awarded property, assets

By Julia Duin

April 4, 2008

A Fairfax circuit judge has awarded a favorable judgment to a group of 11 Anglican churches that were taken to court last fall after breaking away from the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia in late 2006.

In an 83-page opinion released late last night, Judge Randy Bellows ruled that Virginia's Civil War-era “division statute” granting property to departing congregations applies to the Northern Virginia congregations, which are now part of the Nigerian-administered Convocation of Anglicans in North America.

[longtermmemmory]

bump

[AlexW]

GREAT NEWS... I hope more can do the same.

[Dr. Thorne]

The ECUSA is attempting to destroy Christ’s Church, but God always saves a remnant. May He bless this judge and these churches.

[KC Burke]

I cannot imagine that the Diocese will not appeal this as they put poison pill language in their property ownership nationally some years ago during the revolt over ordination of women.

[sionnsar]

Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.

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Speak the truth in love. Eph 4:15

[Mr. Lucky]

If state law holds that the congregation owns the real estate, it would require an instrument executed by the congregation to convey title to the hierarchy.

[patton]

Which, in the case of the Falls Church, never happened.

Same name on the deed since the 17th century, or some such.

[patton]

Err, 18th century - 1769.

[Mr. Lucky]

Which, of course, presents a situation in which the Episcopal Church claims to be the grantee named in a deed which was executed and delivered a century before the Episcopal Church even existed.

It would seem to me that all the Diocese needs to do is to show the court a deed, dated after the Treaty of Paris, conveying the real estate to it and showing that the Episcopal Church paid fair market value to the Anglican Church. Otherwise, the current heirarchy would be asking the Court to allow it to confiscate Anglican property without compensation and to require the Anglican Church to pay to get it back.

[patton]

If they can produce such a deed, they win. LOL.

[mware]

If I am not mistaken Bill Sammon and Fred Barnes belong to the churches that broke away.

[Mad Dawg]

Alleluia.

If you sow wind, you reap whirlwinds.

[patton]

“The first church to be built after it was established by the Colonial General Assembly in 1732 was a wooden building on this site as a part of Truro Parish . It was completed in 1734 by Richard Blackburn on land donated by John Trammell. “

http://www.thefallschurch.org/templates/custhefalls/details.asp?id=29455&PID=203829

[Huber]

I wonder if this will encourage other older congregations who are still sitting on the fence because their ancestors contributed the stained glass and are buried in the churchyard?

[Mr. Lucky]

Actual facts, much like actual Scripture, can be so incovenient.

[patton]

ECUSA might go for adverse possession, but they would lose, under VA law.

[Joe Boucher]

WOW
Judge got it right?
Good job Judge.

[Eva]

What, pray tell, is the “Nigerian-administered Convocation of Anglicans in North America”?

[Gopher Broke]

I good place for Episcopals to turn is The Anglican Mission in America.....

http://www.theamia.org/

[PAR35]

I wonder if this will encourage other older congregations who are still sitting on the fence because their ancestors contributed the stained glass and are buried in the churchyard?

This case isn't going to be of much use beyond Virginia. Perhaps it will encourage a few more folks in that state to make the proper choice.

[Blackyce]

"What, pray tell, is the “Nigerian-administered Convocation of Anglicans in North America”?" I think it's a Nigerian administered Convocation of North American Anglicans. If the title were any more explanatory, it'd come with pictures. In fact:

http://www.canaconvocation.org/