Posted on 12/19/2006 2:10:02 PM PST by rhema
A church is not the building made by hands of man -but the
people made by God. Anybody who would remain in a church of unsound doctrine-for the sake of the beuitiful or historic building has not been born again (Jesus to Nicodemus John 3:3) We get attached to the things we create
and forget the One who Created us. If the reprobate desire
a brick I'd give 'em scortched earth.
Well yes, but the people who paid for something through hard work and money that is in affect stolen from them have a cause to pursue recovering it.
Personally I think the Anglican church hierarchy is evil and this is the fruits of its actions.
Anglican hierarchy is evil? Meaning the people who are breaking away and want to be Anglican via Nigeria, or the USA branch?
1 Corinthians 6:1-6,
"If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!
Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church! I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? But instead, one brother goes to law against another—and this in front of unbelievers!"
This is actually interesting.
In Maryland and the District of Columbia, many churches are not registered with the State or the District, but are chartered under "The Vestry Act" which goes back to the early 1700's and precedents to the 1600's.
The law holds that the Vestrymen hold the property for the church.
Could cause quite a legal tangle.
Who gets the Waterford?
If the Virginia congregations and their church buildings existed before there was an Episcopal Church, the "trust" argument would seem pretty weak.
This will be interesting.
That only applies if both parties are Christian (In the true Biblical sense).
When those congregations were formed, they were part of the Church of England. They are still in communion with the Church of England, but not with the Episcopal Church.
Any lawyer or judge who has ever been involved in litigation by competing church factions will tell you they can be every bit as nasty and contentious as a bitterly contested divorce.
What gain would there be in spending $500,000 in legal fees to win an empty church building that costs $2-4,000 a month in maintainence and utility fees, not to mention the repayment schedules of some buildings which have million dollar plus mortgages.
TEC is in a lose-lose situation, as the number of court cases rise the perception of the TEC as a money grabbing sect will only increase.
The Church will rapidly drive its self into bankruptcy.
I believe that some of the properties are extremely valuable due to their locations. The building and land could be sold by the dioscese and the church torn down by the buyer. Of course this is not the case with every parish building.
From an earlier article discussing two NoVa parishes: "Fairfax County records indicate the buildings and land at both Truro and Falls Church are valued at about $25 million."
Same thing is happening with the PCUSA. The largest and most thriving congregations are conservative, Bible-believing, and ready to bolt. We have already set up a "Confessing Church" organization. Cutting and running would be very healthy for traditional denominations.
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