Anglican Congregation celebrates historic faith in property settlement: St. Margaret’s Anglican Church, Woodbridge, Va., and Episcopal Diocese end property dispute

From here:

St. Margaret's, Woodbridge, VA

WOODBRIDGE, Va. (April 5, 2012) – St. Margaret’s Anglican Church, one of seven Anglican congregations that are parties to the church property case brought by The Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, celebrates taking a stand for the Gospel truth amidst settling its property involved in the case.

The settlement calls for St. Margaret’s Anglican to turn over to the Diocese its real property, including the parcel the parish bought, improved and maintained for fifty years. St. Margaret’s Anglican will vacate the property by April 30, and will turn over to the Diocese a portion of the liquid assets on hand when the lawsuit commenced in early 2007. St. Margaret's will retain a portion of those liquid assets and a valuable hand bell collection that was a gift to St. Margaret's from a parishioner.

St. Margaret’s was one of many Virginia Episcopal congregations who voted overwhelmingly to disassociate from The Episcopal Church and the Diocese in order to remain faithful to the historic doctrine of the worldwide Anglican Communion.  

“This settlement is good news to us,” stated Alan Clark, Senior Warden of St. Margaret’s Anglican. “We are ready to move on in our mission of proclaiming Jesus Christ. Together, putting the legal dispute behind us, we celebrate who we are as Anglicans and followers of Christ.  We trust in the path God has laid for St. Margaret’s Anglican, and look forward to where He plans to use our congregation to spread His transforming love.”

The Rt. Rev. David Bena, Interim Rector of St. Margaret’s Anglican, added, “Throughout these past several years of costly court battles, I have been humbled to bear witness to St. Margaret’s faith-filled stand for the Gospel truth at whatever expense.”

“We appreciate the good faith of Diocesan officials in negotiating the settlement, and we’re thrilled to be part of growing entities such as the regional Anglican Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic (a member diocese of the Anglican Church in North America) and the Convocation of Anglicans in North America. The death and resurrection of our Lord this Holy Week remind us that God is ultimately in charge. Our parishioners are ready to fully focus our energies on preaching, teaching, healing and making disciples in Jesus’ name. We may have lost the buildings, but we’ve kept the faith!” concluded Bishop Bena.

St. Margaret’s Anglican Church is a member congregation of the newly established Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic, a regional and growing diocese of the Anglican Church in North America dedicated to reaching North America with the transforming love of Jesus Christ. The Diocese consists of 35 member congregations.

The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia has also released a statement: 

Diocese Settles with St. Margaret's Anglican Church, Woodbridge 

The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and St. Margaret’s Anglican Church, Woodbridge, have reached an agreement that concludes the property dispute which began in 2006. 

Under the terms of the agreement, St. Margaret’s Anglican Church will convey all real and tangible personal property to the Diocese, with the exception of a set of hand bells. With regards to the $115,443 of liquid assets awarded the Diocese of Virginia under the March 1, 2012 final order of the Circuit Court of Fairfax County, St. Margaret’s will retain $40,000 and will pay $75,443 to the Diocese. The Anglican congregation will vacate the property by April 30 and forgo any appeal of the decision. 

“This is a resolution that allows both St. Margaret’s Anglican Church and the Diocese of Virginia to move beyond this dispute,” said Henry D.W. Burt, secretary of the Diocese. “We look forward to the new chapter for both the Diocese of Virginia and St. Margaret’s Anglican.”

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