Orthodox Anglicans Unite in Prayer as Church Property Trial Looms

FAIRFAX, Va. (November 8, 2007) – Churches within the Anglican District of Virginia (ADV) are joining together in prayer in advance of the November 13 church property trial that will take place in Fairfax County Circuit Court. Prayer services will be held at The Falls Church and Church of the Apostles in the next few days and Truro’s chapel will be open for prayer throughout the trial. All 11 of the churches named in the lawsuit, now known as Multi-Circuit Property Litigation, Case No. CL-2007-0248724, are members of ADV, an association of Anglican congregations in Virginia and a part of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA).

“Our legal team and the ADV member parishes are prayerfully preparing for the court proceedings next week. The upcoming prayer services illustrate our continued desire to act in accordance with the will of God and the laws of the land. We remain confident in our legal standing and in our decision to dissociate from The Episcopal Church due to its blatant rejection of the authority of Scripture. It is unfortunate that The Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Virginia abruptly halted our collective efforts to resolve this matter amicably out of court,” said Jim Oakes, vice-chairman of the Anglican District of Virginia.

“I’m thankful that ADV churches have continued to move forward in mission and ministry despite the unseemly distraction of the litigation. It is a privilege to be part of the Anglican District of Virginia, an ecclesiastical body that has become pivotal in the preservation of orthodox Anglicanism and the historic teachings of the church here in Virginia,” Oakes concluded.

On Friday, November 9 at 7:30 p.m., Church of the Apostles, located at 3500 Pickett Road in Fairfax City, Va., will hold a prayer and worship service focused on the legal team and the court proceedings. On Saturday night, November 10, The Falls Church will devote the 5:30 p.m. worship service especially to prayers for the litigation. The prayer vigil will take place in the main sanctuary located at 115 E. Fairfax Street in Falls Church, Va. Truro Church located at 10520 Main Street in Fairfax, Va., is also making its chapel available for prayer throughout the legal proceedings.

The Anglican District of Virginia (www.anglicandistrictofvirginia.org) is an association of Anglican congregations in Virginia. Its members are in full communion with constituent members of the Anglican Communion through its affiliation with the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA), a missionary branch of the Church of Nigeria and other Anglican Archbishops. ADV members are a part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, a community of 77 million people. ADV is dedicated to fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission to make disciples while actively serving in three main capacities: International Ministries, Evangelism, and Strengthening Families and Community. ADV is currently comprised of 20 member congregations.

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