Sunday, February 19, 2012
Today at the Cafe: Days of Elijah
This was in the worship at Truro Church this morning and I thought the roof was going to pop off. There's no God like Jehovah!
Thursday, February 16, 2012
An interesting day ...
Late this afternoon, Fairfax Circuit Court Judge Randy Bellows denied the motion filed by the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia for an "award of prejudgment interest" from the seven Anglican congregations in Virginia.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Bob Dylan's Leather Jacket to go on display at the Smithsonian's Museum of History in new exhibit opening April 5th
It was night that Bob Dylan plugged in and set the world of music on fire.
The event has become legendary in the American music lexicon, when Bob Dylan was booed while on stage at the Newport Folk Festival in the summer of 1965. With his rendition of Maggie's Farm followed by Like a Rolling Stone and stories of Pete Seeger trolling backstage with an ax looking to cut Dylan's electric power, what is clear is that it was a landmark event when rock, folk, blues, prophesy and poetry all smashed together in one performance and changed American music:
You can imagine what a shock it was to see the guy who they called the King of Folk, who had stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial with Martin Luther King, Jr. when he gave his historic I Have a Dream Speech, came out swinging.
It was a far cry from his earlier showings at the Newport Folk Festival, like this one in 1963:
In the performance in Newport on July 25, 1965, just five days after releasing Like a Rolling Stone (now considered one of the greatest rock compositions and performances of all time), Bob Dylan wore a leather jacket with attitude. That jacket is now part of a new exhibit "American Stories," and will also include other great American collectibles such as Dorothy’s ruby slippers, Benjamin Franklin’s walking stick, Abraham Lincoln’s gold pocket watch and Muhammad Ali’s boxing gloves. It is on loan from an anonymous collector.
American Stories will open in April next to the famed Star Spangled Banner Gallery in the American History Museum of the Smithsonian Institution.
Read more about it here.
 |
| Bob Dylan at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival |
You can imagine what a shock it was to see the guy who they called the King of Folk, who had stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial with Martin Luther King, Jr. when he gave his historic I Have a Dream Speech, came out swinging.
It was a far cry from his earlier showings at the Newport Folk Festival, like this one in 1963:
In the performance in Newport on July 25, 1965, just five days after releasing Like a Rolling Stone (now considered one of the greatest rock compositions and performances of all time), Bob Dylan wore a leather jacket with attitude. That jacket is now part of a new exhibit "American Stories," and will also include other great American collectibles such as Dorothy’s ruby slippers, Benjamin Franklin’s walking stick, Abraham Lincoln’s gold pocket watch and Muhammad Ali’s boxing gloves. It is on loan from an anonymous collector.
American Stories will open in April next to the famed Star Spangled Banner Gallery in the American History Museum of the Smithsonian Institution.
Read more about it here.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Tonight at the Cafe: Nova
Tip of the tinfoil to MW. Dedicated to the people of the seven churches.
In the Crucible
“And I will bring the third part through the fire,
Refine them as silver is refined,
And test them as gold is tested.
They will call on My name,
And I will answer them;
I will say, ‘They are My people,’
And they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”
Zech 13:9
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Monday, February 06, 2012
Church of England Synod underway: Archbishop of Canterbury warns that allowing state-sanctioned "assisted suicide" spells "disaster" for society and the church
From here:
The Archbishop of Canterbury has warned that changes to the law to allow assisted suicide would spell "disaster" and a shift in society's attitude to the sanctity of life.
Dr Rowan Williams drew parallels between the change in attitudes in society towards abortion since its legalisation and the impact of a change in the law to permit assisted suicide.
"The default position on abortion has shifted quite clearly over the past 40 years - and to see the default position shift on the sanctity of life would be a disaster," he said.
"We are not committed to the notion - the eccentric notion - that Christians believe we should cling to life at all costs.
"We are committed as Christians to the belief that every life in every imaginable situation is infinitely precious in the sight of God.
"To say that there are certain conditions in which life is legally declared to be not worth living is a major shift in the moral and spiritual atmosphere in which we live.
"We can be realistic, we can be compassionate, in the application of the existing law."
Dr Williams was speaking during a debate at the General Synod of the Church of England on the independent Commission on Assisted Dying headed by former lord chancellor Lord Falconer.
The report published last month called for a change in the law to allow doctors to be given the right to help some terminally ill people to die.
 |
| Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams |
Dr Rowan Williams drew parallels between the change in attitudes in society towards abortion since its legalisation and the impact of a change in the law to permit assisted suicide.
"The default position on abortion has shifted quite clearly over the past 40 years - and to see the default position shift on the sanctity of life would be a disaster," he said.
"We are not committed to the notion - the eccentric notion - that Christians believe we should cling to life at all costs.
"We are committed as Christians to the belief that every life in every imaginable situation is infinitely precious in the sight of God.
"To say that there are certain conditions in which life is legally declared to be not worth living is a major shift in the moral and spiritual atmosphere in which we live.
"We can be realistic, we can be compassionate, in the application of the existing law."
Dr Williams was speaking during a debate at the General Synod of the Church of England on the independent Commission on Assisted Dying headed by former lord chancellor Lord Falconer.
The report published last month called for a change in the law to allow doctors to be given the right to help some terminally ill people to die.
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia files for "prejudgment interest" against the seven Anglican congregations in Virginia
UPDATE: Anglican Curmudgeon has commentary on this development up now which you may read here. The seven Virginia Anglican congregations are set to respond to the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia's motion for "Award of Prejudgment Interest" on February 9, a date set by law from the date the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia filed their Prejudgment Interest motion on January 23. By Virginia statute, the hearing is set for February 16th. However, the Diocese of Virginia for some reason is seeking to rush the hearing up sooner to next Friday, February 10th, rather than the 16th as set by law. The Anglican congregations have filed a motion opposing the attempt by the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia change the hearing date.
The local online newspaper The Patch has the story here. The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia has filed a motion in the Fairfax Circuit Court for an "award of prejudgment interest" against the seven Anglican congregations in Virginia.
Last weekend the Episcopal Bishop of Virginia Shannon Johnston told the Annual Council meeting in Reston that regarding the recent favorable ruling over the Virginia church properties of seven of the congregations that voted to separate in 2006, "The bottom line is that just as we have been able to sustain our case throughout a lengthy and expensive legal process, I strongly believe that we will be able to do what it takes over the next months and years to be faithful to the Church’s mission with respect to each one of the properties involved." Is this filing what he meant?
The filing also comes as The Episcopal Church's Executive Council was faced last week with a very public duel between the Presiding Bishop and the House of Deputies President over substantial budget cuts at 815, the headquarters of the national offices of The Episcopal Church.
Here is the Diocese of Virginia's filing:
MOTION FOR AWARD OF PREJUDGMENT INTEREST AND
MEMORANDUMIN SUPPORT THEREOF
The Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Virginia (the “Diocese”), by counsel,
moves the Court for an award of prejudgment interest pursuant to Va. Code 8.01-3 02. In
support of its motion, the Diocese submits the following memorandum.
1. On January 10, 2012, this Court issued a 113 page Letter Opinion setting forth
three significant rulings in favor of the Diocese: (i) The Episcopal Church and the Diocese have
contractual and proprietary interests in each of the seven Episcopal churches that are the subject
of this litigation, and all real and personal property acquired by the churches up to the ñling date
of the declaratory judgment actions are to be conveyed promptly to the Diocese; (ii) the CANA
Congregations do not possess either contractual or proprietary interests in the property of the
seven Episcopal churches and are enjoined from further use or control of the property and must
promptly relinquish them to the Diocese; and (iii) the vestry empowered to elect directors to the
Falls Church Endowment Fund is the Episcopal vestry recognized by the Diocese. Op. at 14.
2. The Diocese is endeavoring to craft a Final Order which will encompass these
rulings and has communicated with the CANA Congregations to obtain an accounting of real and
personal property, including tangibles and intangibles such as bank deposit accounts, which have been
in their exclusive possession and control since the inception of the litigation. The parties
are attempting to reach agreement as to the sums on deposit at yarious financial institutions as of
the demarcation date identified by the Court, and the Diocese intends to identify such specific
amounts in the Final Order and have such order decree that such sums be returned to it.
3. The Diocese seeks an award of pre-judgment interest as to the liquidated sums on
deposit at various financial institutions as of the date of the Diocese’s filing of the declaratory
judgment actions. Va. Code allows a jury or a court to “provide for interest on any
principal sum awarded . _ . and [to] fix the period at which the interest shall commence.” An
award of pre-judgment interest is completely discretionary with the trial court. Upper Occoquan
Sewage Authority v. Blake Constr. Co., 275 Va. 41, 655 S.E.2d 10 (2008); Dairyland Ins. Co. v.
Douthat, 248 Va. 627, 449 S.E.2d 799 (1994). The purpose of prejudgment interest is to
compensate a plaintiff for the loss sustained by not receiving the amount it was entitled to and
restore the party to the position it would have occupied. Blake, 275 Va. at 63; Marks v. Sanzo,
231 Va. 350, 356 (1986). “[N]atural justice [requires] that he who has the use of another’s
money should pay interest for it.” Blake, 275 Va. at 63 (citations omitted).
4. An awarci of pre-judgment interest is appropriate here “to make the Plaintiff
whole.” Blake Constr. Co. v. Upper Occoquan Sewage Authority, 71 Va. Cir. 248 (Fairfax
2006), a/Td in part, rev ’d in part, 655 S.E.2d 10 (Va. 2008). For over five years, the Diocese
has been deprived of access to and use of the real and personal property of the seven Episcopal
churches at issue, including the amounts on deposit at various ñnancial institutions and
maintained in investment accounts. The financial sums are sizeable, ranging from several
hundred thousand dollars in the case of smaller churches such as St. Paul’s Church to several
million dollars as to The Falls Church and Truro Church. In addition to taking exclusive control
of the real property, the CANA Congregations took possession of the financial accounts and
claimed and maintained them as their own, precluding any use or application of such monies to
the spiritual and other missions of the Diocese. An award of prejudgment interest is necessary
to make the Diocese whole and restore the Diocese to the position it was in at the time it filed the
declaratory judgment actions.
5. In concluding that the CANA Congregations do not possess either contractual or
proprietary interests in the property of the seven Episcopal Churches, the Court noted the
“pervasive control” exercised by The Episcopal Church and the Diocese over the churches. Op.
at 101. The Court emphasized the hierarchical structure of the Church and referenced “the
undeniable fact that these seven churches *were part of a hierarchical denomination for decades
and, in some cases for centuries” and that the congregations’ claims of autonomy and
independence were “contradicted by the overwhelming body of evidence before this Court.” Op.
at 101. The Court said that applying neutral principles of law, as established by United States
and Virginia Supreme Court precedents, it is “clear - indeed, to this Court, it is overwhelmingly
evident- that TEC and the Diocese have contractual and proprietary interests in the real and
personal property of each of these seven churches.” Op. at 104. The Court stressed that “whi1e
the CANA Congregations had an absolute right to depart from TEC and the Diocese, they had no
right to take these seven Episcopal churches with them.” Id. (emphasis in original) Given the
“compelling” evidence and “clear” law presented, the ultimate conclusion reached by the Court,
while disappointing to the CANA Congregations, could not have come as any surprise; and they
presumably segregated such sums and can readily turn the accounts over with the accrued
interest. See Op. at 102, 104. Moreover, that the CANA Congregations may have believed there
was a bona ñde dispute as to ownership of the real and personal property has no bearing on the
decision whether to award prejudgment interest. See Gill v. Rollins Protective Servs. Co., 836
F.2d 194 (4th Cir. 1987) (neither Code 8.01-3 82 nor Virginia case law makes an exception to
the general discretionary rule on pre-judgment interest for bona ñde legal disputes).
6. The amounts on deposit in various financial institutions by the seven Episcopal
churches as of the demarcation date identified by the Court (the date of the filing by the Diocese
of the various declaratory judgment actions) is easily discernible. This litigation has been
pending for over five years and the duration of the case and overwhelming evidence in favor of
the Diocese merit the award. See Tauber v. Comm. of Va., 263 Va. 520, 562 S.E.2d 1818 (2002)
(affirming decision to award prejudgment interest based on the “extended duration of this suit”
and “the overwhelming evidence in the record”). Pre-judgment interest as to these liquidated
sums can and should be calculated and decreed to restore the Diocese to its position as of the
date of ñling the declaratory judgment actions. See Op. at 112. Pursuant to Va. Code
the rate of pre-judgment interest is six percent.
WHEREFORE, for the foregoing reasons, the Diocese respectfully requests that the
Court order and decree that the Diocese’s request for an award of prejudgment interest is
granted and, following entry of the Final Order, interest shall accrue at the judgment rate until paid.
BB NOTE: This is indeed sad news, but may we pause and consider prayer - we, the people of the Diocese of Virginia and the people of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic pray .... please pray too. We will be able to go forward when we can trust again and know, in the depths of our hearts, that we are loved, not through our own merits, but by the merits of Jesus. May it be so.
The local online newspaper The Patch has the story here. The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia has filed a motion in the Fairfax Circuit Court for an "award of prejudgment interest" against the seven Anglican congregations in Virginia.
Last weekend the Episcopal Bishop of Virginia Shannon Johnston told the Annual Council meeting in Reston that regarding the recent favorable ruling over the Virginia church properties of seven of the congregations that voted to separate in 2006, "The bottom line is that just as we have been able to sustain our case throughout a lengthy and expensive legal process, I strongly believe that we will be able to do what it takes over the next months and years to be faithful to the Church’s mission with respect to each one of the properties involved." Is this filing what he meant?
The filing also comes as The Episcopal Church's Executive Council was faced last week with a very public duel between the Presiding Bishop and the House of Deputies President over substantial budget cuts at 815, the headquarters of the national offices of The Episcopal Church.
Here is the Diocese of Virginia's filing:
MOTION FOR AWARD OF PREJUDGMENT INTEREST AND
MEMORANDUMIN SUPPORT THEREOF
The Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Virginia (the “Diocese”), by counsel,
moves the Court for an award of prejudgment interest pursuant to Va. Code 8.01-3 02. In
support of its motion, the Diocese submits the following memorandum.
1. On January 10, 2012, this Court issued a 113 page Letter Opinion setting forth
three significant rulings in favor of the Diocese: (i) The Episcopal Church and the Diocese have
contractual and proprietary interests in each of the seven Episcopal churches that are the subject
of this litigation, and all real and personal property acquired by the churches up to the ñling date
of the declaratory judgment actions are to be conveyed promptly to the Diocese; (ii) the CANA
Congregations do not possess either contractual or proprietary interests in the property of the
seven Episcopal churches and are enjoined from further use or control of the property and must
promptly relinquish them to the Diocese; and (iii) the vestry empowered to elect directors to the
Falls Church Endowment Fund is the Episcopal vestry recognized by the Diocese. Op. at 14.
2. The Diocese is endeavoring to craft a Final Order which will encompass these
rulings and has communicated with the CANA Congregations to obtain an accounting of real and
personal property, including tangibles and intangibles such as bank deposit accounts, which have been
in their exclusive possession and control since the inception of the litigation. The parties
are attempting to reach agreement as to the sums on deposit at yarious financial institutions as of
the demarcation date identified by the Court, and the Diocese intends to identify such specific
amounts in the Final Order and have such order decree that such sums be returned to it.
3. The Diocese seeks an award of pre-judgment interest as to the liquidated sums on
deposit at various financial institutions as of the date of the Diocese’s filing of the declaratory
judgment actions. Va. Code allows a jury or a court to “provide for interest on any
principal sum awarded . _ . and [to] fix the period at which the interest shall commence.” An
award of pre-judgment interest is completely discretionary with the trial court. Upper Occoquan
Sewage Authority v. Blake Constr. Co., 275 Va. 41, 655 S.E.2d 10 (2008); Dairyland Ins. Co. v.
Douthat, 248 Va. 627, 449 S.E.2d 799 (1994). The purpose of prejudgment interest is to
compensate a plaintiff for the loss sustained by not receiving the amount it was entitled to and
restore the party to the position it would have occupied. Blake, 275 Va. at 63; Marks v. Sanzo,
231 Va. 350, 356 (1986). “[N]atural justice [requires] that he who has the use of another’s
money should pay interest for it.” Blake, 275 Va. at 63 (citations omitted).
4. An awarci of pre-judgment interest is appropriate here “to make the Plaintiff
whole.” Blake Constr. Co. v. Upper Occoquan Sewage Authority, 71 Va. Cir. 248 (Fairfax
2006), a/Td in part, rev ’d in part, 655 S.E.2d 10 (Va. 2008). For over five years, the Diocese
has been deprived of access to and use of the real and personal property of the seven Episcopal
churches at issue, including the amounts on deposit at various ñnancial institutions and
maintained in investment accounts. The financial sums are sizeable, ranging from several
hundred thousand dollars in the case of smaller churches such as St. Paul’s Church to several
million dollars as to The Falls Church and Truro Church. In addition to taking exclusive control
of the real property, the CANA Congregations took possession of the financial accounts and
claimed and maintained them as their own, precluding any use or application of such monies to
the spiritual and other missions of the Diocese. An award of prejudgment interest is necessary
to make the Diocese whole and restore the Diocese to the position it was in at the time it filed the
declaratory judgment actions.
5. In concluding that the CANA Congregations do not possess either contractual or
proprietary interests in the property of the seven Episcopal Churches, the Court noted the
“pervasive control” exercised by The Episcopal Church and the Diocese over the churches. Op.
at 101. The Court emphasized the hierarchical structure of the Church and referenced “the
undeniable fact that these seven churches *were part of a hierarchical denomination for decades
and, in some cases for centuries” and that the congregations’ claims of autonomy and
independence were “contradicted by the overwhelming body of evidence before this Court.” Op.
at 101. The Court said that applying neutral principles of law, as established by United States
and Virginia Supreme Court precedents, it is “clear - indeed, to this Court, it is overwhelmingly
evident- that TEC and the Diocese have contractual and proprietary interests in the real and
personal property of each of these seven churches.” Op. at 104. The Court stressed that “whi1e
the CANA Congregations had an absolute right to depart from TEC and the Diocese, they had no
right to take these seven Episcopal churches with them.” Id. (emphasis in original) Given the
“compelling” evidence and “clear” law presented, the ultimate conclusion reached by the Court,
while disappointing to the CANA Congregations, could not have come as any surprise; and they
presumably segregated such sums and can readily turn the accounts over with the accrued
interest. See Op. at 102, 104. Moreover, that the CANA Congregations may have believed there
was a bona ñde dispute as to ownership of the real and personal property has no bearing on the
decision whether to award prejudgment interest. See Gill v. Rollins Protective Servs. Co., 836
F.2d 194 (4th Cir. 1987) (neither Code 8.01-3 82 nor Virginia case law makes an exception to
the general discretionary rule on pre-judgment interest for bona ñde legal disputes).
6. The amounts on deposit in various financial institutions by the seven Episcopal
churches as of the demarcation date identified by the Court (the date of the filing by the Diocese
of the various declaratory judgment actions) is easily discernible. This litigation has been
pending for over five years and the duration of the case and overwhelming evidence in favor of
the Diocese merit the award. See Tauber v. Comm. of Va., 263 Va. 520, 562 S.E.2d 1818 (2002)
(affirming decision to award prejudgment interest based on the “extended duration of this suit”
and “the overwhelming evidence in the record”). Pre-judgment interest as to these liquidated
sums can and should be calculated and decreed to restore the Diocese to its position as of the
date of ñling the declaratory judgment actions. See Op. at 112. Pursuant to Va. Code
the rate of pre-judgment interest is six percent.
WHEREFORE, for the foregoing reasons, the Diocese respectfully requests that the
Court order and decree that the Diocese’s request for an award of prejudgment interest is
granted and, following entry of the Final Order, interest shall accrue at the judgment rate until paid.
BB NOTE: This is indeed sad news, but may we pause and consider prayer - we, the people of the Diocese of Virginia and the people of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic pray .... please pray too. We will be able to go forward when we can trust again and know, in the depths of our hearts, that we are loved, not through our own merits, but by the merits of Jesus. May it be so.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
Update from the Diocese of Virginia Annual Council
Intrepid is on the scene. Here is his report:
Intrepid is a member of the Diocese of Virginia Annual Council now underway at the Reston Hyatt at Reston Town Center, Virginia.
UPDATE: Bishop Shannon Johnston's pastoral address is now online. Here is an excerpt:
 |
| Bishop Shannon Johnston |
"We are so blessed by a generous and godly heritage ..."
Bishop Shannon Johnston began with a discussion of the benefits of the size of the diocese and the ministry of the Diocesan system. He offered a strong call to a greater diocesan and institutional ministry.
"We have greater financial resources available to supply the needs of diocesan ministry ... So we can better meet the common needs and expectations ... We have ample resources to do greater ministry through our diocesan ministries ... We simply must do this, there is no reason or excuse not to ..."
He continued, "The work of the commissions and committees is strong and reaches to all people in the diocese ... We have a much larger critical mass of people to step up and serve ... We don't have to depend on just a few to do all the diocesan ministries require."
The Bishop then mentioned that the diocese has 59 persons in formation to become ordained ministers, and another 40 people in the exploratory phase. He was very pleased that there were 99 people in this process. It left me wondering if we did not have more people in this system than the Diocese needed considering the size and number of our congregations. And it was a bit odd to think we have more people involved in the ordination process than what must be the median average congregation in the Diocese.
The Bishop then gave a report on how connected the Diocese of Virginia is to the rest of the Anglican Communion. "We are the most outward looking diocese than any other I know of." He explained that 75 congregations are connected to 40 other churches internationally. He added, "But it's not about quantity but about the quality of relationships in mission." The goal was then given to us for more to become involved. "I am so committed to the Anglican Communion I have set the goal of having relationships with every province in the entire Anglican Communion."
Only one has to wonder about the quality of our diocesan relationships with the Anglicans in ACNA ... I am still amazed at the brash answer I received years ago from Virginia's Bishop Suffragan David Jones. I asked him why the Diocese was not willing to give letters dimissory to priests who wished to depart from the Episcopal Church but remain in the Anglican Communion. Bishop Jones explained to me that there was a "Gentleman's Agreement" among the members of the House of Bishops that no such letters would be given to those who were not actually leaving the diocese/country to take up residence in a church far away. It seemed petty at the time. But as we know, the agreement is still in force, making it hard to see how well connected we are to the rest of the AC. It also is a sad commentary on the quality of our relationships ...
 |
| The Diocese of Virginia Annual Council meets in Reston. |
The Bishop continued, "Our diocese is under worldwide scrutiny ... In considering the return of Episcopal properties to the ministry of the diocese it is a big mistake to refer to this as a legal battle. It is about theology ... What is a stake is our polity, our ancient and defining order of being the church ... It is a matter of no less than our faithfulness ... And it will take more than the courts to settle things ..."
"Despite the recent court ruling in our favor we simply do not know what the future holds ... We have reason to believe our properties will be returned. For nearly two years we have considered and discussed this positive outcome. We will be fully prepared for any eventuality ... just as we have been able to sustain our case ... I strongly believe that we will be able to do what it takes over the next months and years to be faithful to the church's mission in respect to each of the properties involved. We do have what it takes ... We have the critical mass to move forward. In my mind there can be no doubt we can be up to the task ahead ..."
"We are bristling with possibilities. It is not overstating the case that this is one of the defining moments in our over 400 year history."
The Bishop also announced the creation of a new super committee called Daysprings which will have three working groups ...
- Vision and strategy for the use of the returned properties,
- Resources for funding them and,
- Messaging to communicate inside the diocese and to the world
The Bishop will announce the membership of these groups in the near future. To sum up this section of the address, the Bishop then added, "There must be a spirit of graciousness wherever and whenever possible ... No community of faith or ministry program will be thrown out of its current place." The Bishop said he was open to generous provision, creative solutions and a sense of mutuality, "while protecting the integrity of our own witness."
And he said, "I want to have a witness to the world, particularly the Anglican world, not just an outcome in the court." we wait to see to what that is a witness, but it would seem first and foremost to be a witness to the institution of the diocese and those who minister in it to make things happen. Less was said about individuals or individual parish ministry. At times the Bishop sounded more like a man trying to get us on board than anything else. He certainly has a great love for the church as an institution. I wonder though about the value of clinging to what may soon be outmoded structures and mission priorities. Especially when the "integrity of our witness" has to do with property disputes.
And I wonder ... Should the return of properties after an expensive court battle truly be the defining event in an over 400 year history as a Diocese. I shudder to think that could be true.
Intrepid is a member of the Diocese of Virginia Annual Council now underway at the Reston Hyatt at Reston Town Center, Virginia.
As all of you know, the matter of our size, resources and abilities has been–over the past five years–under worldwide scrutiny. Our diocese is navigating a complex set of circumstances regarding our effort to return Episcopal properties to the mission and ministry of the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Virginia. It would be a big mistake to characterize this simply as a “legal” battle. Rather, at its core, this is (make no mistake about it) about theology, meaning who we are as a Church in relationship with Christ and the world. At stake is our polity, that is, our ancient and defining order of our being the Church. Thus, it is altogether a matter of nothing less than our very faithfulness. It will therefore take more than the courts to settle things. So far, our legal efforts are bearing abundant fruit, but that fruit at hand is making ecclesial life even more complex! Despite the recent court ruling in our favor, we simply don’t know now what the future holds. Nonetheless, we have reason to be more confident than ever that our properties will be returned. For nearly two years, we have considered and discussed such a positive outcome, and now we must move to put contingency plans in place. We will be fully prepared for any eventuality...Read it all here.
This is exactly on point in my overall theme here of the advantages of being a large diocese. The bottom line is that just as we have been able to sustain our case throughout a lengthy and expensive legal process, I strongly believe that we will be able to do what it takes over the next months and years to be faithful to the Church’s mission with respect to each one of the properties involved. And, as I’ve here been making the case, we do, in fact, have what it takes–that “critical mass”–when we all put our shoulders to the wheels. To be sure, what’s ahead will take all of us working together as a diocesan Church and ministry. We are faced quite squarely with many questions and challenges right now, but in my mind there can be no doubt: we are up to them.
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