Posted on 03/05/2012 12:19:43 PM PST by marshmallow
A Virginia judge has ordered seven congregations that broke from the Episcopal Church to return all property to the local diocese -- from valuable land to sacred chalices -- by April 30.
The Diocese of Virginia had wanted the properties returned by March 30, a week before Easter. But Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Randy Bellows agreed to give the breakaway congregations more time.
In a closely watched case that reached the Virginia Supreme Court, Bellows ruled in January that congregations had the right to leave the Diocese of Virginia, but not to take church property with them.
The conservative congregations must return an estimated $40 million worth of property, according to The Washington Post, including several large, historic churches. They must also return chalices, prayer books, crosses and some of the money they had on hand before they left the Episcopal Church.
Bellows also ordered the breakaway congregations not to use the name "Episcopal" or "Episcopalian" in their names.
"We hope that this will mark the end of this lengthy litigation," said Virginia Bishop Shannon Johnston.
Frustrated with the Episcopal Church's liberal theology, which includes consecrating gay and lesbian priests as bishops, the congregations voted to leave the denomination in 2006 and 2007. They are now part of the rival Anglican Church in North America.
Jim Oakes, a spokesman for the breakaway congregations, said they are "prayerfully considering their legal options."
Oakes said they are particularly upset at Bellows' order to turn over donations given to the congregations before they left the Episcopal Church.
(Excerpt) Read more at thechurchreport.com ...
So hand it over and walk away. They’ll be better off for doing it.
So sad and it assumes that these parishes are subject to the Dennis Canon which they are not.
It’s just my opinion, but I think any “Church” that evolves—and morphs into something which flips the Bible on its head—saying Evil is Good—should be stripped of the “Christian” name.
Any “Christian” church that glorifies the sins in the Bible—and actually claims sodomy as good, worships at the altar of Baal and they should have to Change the name of their god who is really Satan.
You don’t have “majority vote” on changing the Bible’s basic concepts of Good and Evil—especially when it defies Natural Law—so beautifully explained by St. Thomas Aquinas. Natural Moral Law and God’s Laws never differ and Natural Law predated the New Testament and is the basis of reason.
Here is a good review of the case by Anglican Curmudgeon.
http://accurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2012/03/heads-we-win-tails-you-lose-that-sums.html
This is always a tough thing to decide. On the one hand, the buildings and property probably belong to the denomination. On the other hand, it was the parishioners, and their predecessors, who paid for it.
The people who are using the church could continue to use it. The Episcopal Church has betrayed all its principles, and it’s doubtful, with the current, local congregation leaving, that they’ll be able to fill the church with new customers, or pay for its upkeep.
Maybe they can sell it to the Muslims at a fire sale price?
Also, what’s with this not being able to use the word Episcopal in their name? Doesn’t this idiot judge know that that just means “church”? So it’s the Church Church?
This is a shame. Truro Parish is the parish of my ancestors, even though I am not an Episcopalian, I feel the parish has been defiled.
don’t you mean Ekklesia?
Episcope = overseer.
Scope = to see, Epi - underneath.
Episcope Ekklesia, the Church of seeing beneath. ;)
Rev. Mother Superior message to them is to leave it behind. After all, her husband, who is also our Lord and Savior said to drop everything and follow me. Rev. Mother says she will greet them with a smile and hold the door open for them when they come to Mass on Sunday too!
I must have been reading too much of Anthony Trollope’s Barchester series, and the episcopal affairs they describe.
I just reread them last summer.
A Virginia judge has ordered seven congregations that broke from the Episcopal Church to return all property to the local diocese -- from valuable land to sacred chalices -- by April 30.
Gut feeling (talk is cheap), they should walk, leave their stuff behind and be free of it.
Bellows also ordered the breakaway congregations not to use the name "Episcopal" or "Episcopalian" in their names.
"Episcopal" is an adjective, referring to a particular form of church government. ECUSA has a lock on an adjective now?
Also, what’s with this not being able to use the word Episcopal in their name? Doesn’t this idiot judge know that that just means “church”? So it’s the Church Church?
I thought it had to do with having a hierarchical system with bishops. (As opposed to a presbyterian or congregational system, or "Moses model" authoritarianism.)
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