Posted on 05/25/2008 11:35:36 AM PDT by libstripper
A half-dozen national Protestant denominations are supporting the Episcopal Church in a multimillion-dollar Virginia property dispute, saying a state law at the heart of the case could threaten them, too.
The United Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church (USA), among others, have filed court briefs in the past few weeks supporting the Episcopal Church, which is fighting 11 breakaway Virginia congregations that say the national church has become too liberal on issues from salvation to sexuality. Majorities of those congregations voted to leave and are now in Fairfax County Circuit Court over who gets to keep the property.
Experts say there are 50 to 100 similar property cases across the country, mostly involving Presbyterians, Methodists and Episcopalians. Most involve disputes over what scripture says about same-sex relationships. Cases have been decided in favor of both sides.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
“The United Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church (USA), among others, have filed court briefs in the past few weeks supporting the Episcopal Church,”
I think the supporting denoms have the same legal/incorporation structures, at the local level, under which the property IS the property of the national denomination, no matter what degree of “national” funding actually went into the property.
And those denominations are—
$1,000
$100
$50
$5
$1
(follow the money)
In this case, the congregations existed before the diocese. But I can understand the denomination wanting to contain possible loss of building. But the way I look at it “church “ is the body of Christ, not the building. We have several Episcopal churches in this section of Florida that simply walked away from thier buildings.
I am not a pastor in any of these named denomiations, but in my denomination the building is in the name the the district body. I can tell you if I felt the Lord was pulling me in some way that ran into conflict I would have no problem walking away from the building to follow the Lord and if others came they would then become the “church”. Maybe it’s just me...LOL.
The building belongs to the people who paid for it. They can always get a new minister and dump the marxists.
Perfect example of a sheep in wolf's clothing those marxists.
They’ll gladly get rid of the pesky Christians, but they want to keep the buildings to turn them into nightclubs or abortion mills or some other revenue-generating enterprise.
In the case of the Episcopal Church, every parish and mission is LEGALLY incorporated into its diocese. In other words, the basic religious and administrive unit of the church is NOT the parish but the diocese. Just as all deacons and priests serve under the administrative jusisdiction of a diocesan bishop, so too are parishes simply part of a diocese. I think there’s much misunderstanding about this because the polity of the Episcopal Church is NOT congregational but diocesan. In that respect it’s very similar to the Roman Catholic Church.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. In the case of the PCUSA, and many of the ECUSA churches, the title is in the local congregation, not the national denomination. Both the ECUSA and the PCUSA claim a trust over property that they don't own. Enforceability of the 'trust' varies from state to state.
Some states look to see whose name is on the deed, and ignore internal church structures.
thanks for your correction of my incorrect assumption
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