Virginia Diocese Will ‘Assert’ Canonical and Legal Rights

The Living Church Foundation ^ | 12/18/2006

[sionnsar]

Following a joint Dec. 18 meeting of the executive board and standing committee, the Diocese of Virginia began the process of sorting through options to recover the property of seven churches where the majority voted to leave.

“As I have said previously, our polity maintains that all real and personal property is held in trust for The Episcopal Church and the Diocese,” said the Rt. Rev. Peter J. Lee, Bishop of Virginia, in a prepared statement. “As stewards of this historic trust, we fully intend to assert the Church’s canonical and legal rights over these properties. The members of the Property Commission are charged with addressing those matters on behalf of the Diocese on a case by case basis.”

In consultation with the executive board and standing committee, Bishop Lee appointed seven diocesan members to a new committee charged with addressing questions concerning real and personal property on behalf of the diocese. According to the release, the property committee will meet with departing members and will make recommendations to the standing committee, executive board and Bishop for their consideration.

Bishop Lee, the executive board and standing committee have also agreed to a “standstill agreement” with the leadership of the departing congregations in which neither side will initiate litigation for a period of 30 days. As part of that agreement, the departing members have agreed not to attempt to transfer property.

“Our primary concern is for the membership of the Diocese of Virginia,” Bishop Lee said. “In some of our churches where that membership has now been significantly reduced, there are faithful Episcopalians who need to be given every encouragement to establish structures necessary for their continuity as the Episcopal Church.”

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[sionnsar]

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Speak the truth in love. Eph 4:15

[Old_Mil]

The people who vote to leave are usually at a disadvantage in situations like this because they employ Christian principles in dealing with people who are most certainly not. What the ECUSA is attempting to do is steal the property of these congregations and as such, the leaving congregations need to understand that they are dealing with thieves who seek to deprive them of what is theirs. A man like Bishop Lee who will betray Jesus himself will not think twice about a little light larceny.

[rabscuttle385]

Virginia law trumps TEC's rules: under state law, a majority of the congregation may vote to leave the denomination and take all property with them.

But since when did the law stop "progressives" and "liberals"?

[dangus]

"
“As I have said previously, our polity maintains that all real and personal property is held in trust for The Episcopal Church and the Diocese,” said the Rt. Rev. Peter J. Lee, Bishop of Virginia, in a prepared statement."

My polity is that I'm the emperor of France.

[rabscuttle385]

LOL.