Monday, November 02, 2009

But wait - there's more: Episcopal Church sues another local parish for their property

No really, everything is fine. From the Tennessean:
For the past three years, the two sides have been at a standstill, with neither willing to budge. The congregation of St. Andrew's continued to worship in the building, while the diocese waited for a change of heart on the part of Guill's congregation. That ended Friday, when the diocese filed suit against St. Andrew's to reclaim the property.

"We feel like we have left time for God to work," Bauerschmidt said. "We would like them to participate in the life of the diocese. But leadership at St. Andrew's seems unwilling to do that."

Many court cases

Bauerschmidt is the latest Episcopal bishop to end up in court with former members of his flock. In recent years, about 60 disputes over Episcopal property have been decided by lawsuits. In almost every case, courts have ruled in favor of dioceses because of an Episcopal church law known as the Dennis Canon. That church law states that local church property is held in trust for the denomination.

In St. Andrew's case, the church bought the Woodmont property from the diocese for $10 in 1966, and the deed does not contain any mention of a trust involving the diocese.
Read it all here.

3 comments:

Steven in Falls Church said...

10:40 a.m. EST and no troll comments decrying this new litigation? I'm shocked.

Anonymous said...

"We feel like we have left time for God to work," Bauerschmidt said.

Weasel words.

Pray for this lost and blind guide.

Anonymous said...

How much time should the Diocese have allowed for the departing group to vacate the property? What would have been appropriate in these circumstances? Is there a point on the calendar where, if the Bishop had had more patience, those who left would have returned the facilities? Somehow, I don't think so.

Scout