[XR7]

Bishop Peter Lee, in return, filed suit against each of the 11, seeking to confiscate the church properties -- and has taken steps to defrock 27 clergy associated with those churches.

Why?
Because they have committed the unpardonable sine: not being in favor of turning the church over to drunken homosexual activists and radical feminists.

[XR7]

ping.

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

homosexual activists and radical feminists.

How do you distinguish the two?

[Wilhelm Tell]

"All 21 of us have gotten ourselves recognized by either the Church of Uganda or the Church of Nigeria," he said, "so we are priests of those churches and no longer as priests in the Episcopal Church.

I guess in a sense the Africans are sending Christian missionaries to a de-Christianized America.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

The enemy from within comes to mind. I am glad to see these people not putting up with the bullsh*t from these radical leftist loons.God Speed.

[rpgdfmx]

The theology is irrelevant. This is a property dispute... if the Episcopal Church Diocese owns the church (and that's the way they're structured), and the congregation joins some other organization, then the Episcopal Bishop is right to want his stuff back. This is like an Elk Club deciding to become the Knights of Columbus. Fine... but they'll have to meet somewhere else, if the Elks own the Lodge

[Tom D.]

Technically, Bishop Lee, acting on behalf of the Diocese of Virginia, cannot confiscate the church properties since the Diocese already owns it.

For better or for worse, the Episcopal Church structure is such that each diocese essentially owns the churches within that diocese, not the congregations. The same is true for the Methodist and I believe the Roman Catholic Churches. There are several other denominations where the real property is owned by a large, regional, or statewide body rather than the local congregations.

Some Dioceses have let departing congregations purchase the relevant church building, particularly where the building is heavily encumbered with mortgages. I believe this happened recently in Raleigh, NC.

On the other hand, the congregations of the Baptists and the Churches of Christ and other denominations own their own church buildings.

If you are thinking of making a substantial contribution towards church improvements, you might want to take a look at what body actually owns it if these types of issues concern you.

[madprof98]

I was delighted to learn that our local Episcopal parish, St. Andrew's-in-the-Pines in Peachtree City, is leaving TEC. They have a beautiful church facility. I wonder if the leftist bishop here will let them keep it.

[sgtbono2002]

How do they expect to keep these churches when the parisioners stop giving their donations?

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

I wonder what Jesus thinks about all of this, property, lawsuits, and all?

[Regulator]

The whole point of this queer takeover of the Episcopalian church is to get the property. A bigger bunch of sheep waiting to be fleeced there never was.

Once the freaks have anointed themselves as leaders, then they can auction off the property and pocket millions. I personally know of an Episcopal property that sold for $45 million - and was donated to the church in the 1930's.

The money can then be used to supercharge the Queer agenda, as well as using church pronouncements to legitimize their behavior as "normal" and "part of God's plan".

That is all that is happening here. The congregations should fight tooth and nail to keep their churches and property away from the Vicky Gene Robinson's of the Episcopal "leadership".

[lexington minuteman 1775]

The Church is to be built on the rock. And if the Episcopal church manages to confiscate the property it is of no great loss. The Christians who had met there will build new buildings. The defrocking carries nothing with it since those who have left have been recognized as Anglicans. There are far more Anglicans in the world than Episcopals. So you will have a bunch of empty former church buildings and new life in those congregations that have left the apostacy headed by the likes of Bishop Lee.
The Church is universal and triumphant and the likes of Bishop Lee are but a speck in time.
Amen!

[VOA]

Virginia Episcopal Bishop Sues Exiting Churches

Just like I say about the push for gay marriage:
"It's ALL about The MONEY"

[sionnsar]

Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.

FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this moderately high-volume ping list (typically 3-9 pings/day).
This list is pinged by sionnsar, Huber and newheart.

Resource for Traditional Anglicans: http://trad-anglican.faithweb.com
More Anglican articles here.

Humor: The Anglican Blue (by Huber)

Speak the truth in love. Eph 4:15

[VOA]

bump for publicity

[lilylangtree]

Not only are homosexuals in leadership roles but the leadership is now saying that "Christ is not the only way to salvation". Wow! Sounds like ancient sinful biblical churches are alive and well.

[Chode]

let the renting of cloth and the wailing and gnashing of teeth commence...

[megatherium]

An article, "At Axis of Episcopal Split, an Anti-Gay Nigerian", in the December 25, 2006 NY Times, claims that Bishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria (with whom some Episcopal parishes are aligning) advocates a bill in Nigeria that would not only punish homosexuality by five years in prison, would also punish public expressions of homosexuality by five years in prison. The bill, according to the article, would also prohibit homosexuals meeting in public, as at a restaurant. Can anyone shed light on this? As an American and an Episcopalian, this concerns me -- I believe in the divinity of Christ, but I also cherish our constitutional rights to freedom of speech and freedom of association.

[Kimmers]

"Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schorri) is saying that Christ is not the only way to salvation -- just a way."

I am not sure what Bible this women is reading but

Jonah 2:9
But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD."

[GretchenM]

1 Corinthians 6: 1 Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints [saints = the people who are saved by faith in Jesus Christ]? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?
4 So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, 6 but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?
7 Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 On the contrary, you yourselves wrong and defraud. You do this even to your brethren.

[Non-Sequitur]

"(Bishop Lee) has taken the position that congregations cannot leave the Episcopal Church -- only individuals can," the Rev. Jeffrey Cerar told CitizenLink, "(but) our congregation, as a congregation, took a vote, and by a three-fourths majority, decided in a duly constituted meeting to sever our ties -- and we also voted to keep our property."

If the legal owner of the property is the Episcopal diocese then the congregation had better be ready to vote a fund raising drive to pay for it.