Judge rules in favor of breakaway groups (Anglican - N. Va.)

Washington Times ^ | Thursday, August 21, 2008 | Julia Duin

[PAR35]

A Fairfax County judge dealt the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Virginia a third defeat in their efforts to retain millions of dollars of church property being held by 11 breakaway congregations.

On Tuesday, Circuit Judge Randy I. Bellows ruled on whether the U.S. Constitution's contracts clause applies to the case and whether the breakaway churches had the right to invoke what's been termed the "division statute," an 1867 law that allows a majority of a breakaway church to retain the property.

...

The diocese and the Episcopal Church had asserted in an Aug. 11 hearing that even if they did not own the properties, they had vested pre-contractual rights to them.

"The court holds today that they could not," the judge wrote in his ruling dated Aug. 19.

[PAR35]

The judge also ruled that they hadn't timely raised an issue as to whether the Parishes had waived a right to assert the statute by joining the ECUSA.

[rabscuttle385]

Hoorah!

[PAR35]

I didn’t see this posted, so I submit it for a ping.

By the way - for those interested in church property issues, a key ruling is due soon in the Presbyterian case out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Last I saw, the judge was planning to issue his ruling August 28.

[PAR35]

I’m a little surprised that you didn’t beat me to this one. Looks like the ‘good’ Bishop of Virginia isn’t going to end up with much to show for his double dealing.

[rabscuttle385]

I’m a little surprised that you didn’t beat me to this one.

I've been out of town lately and, since it's summer, have only been half paying attention.

Looks like the ‘good’ Bishop of Virginia isn’t going to end up with much to show for his double dealing.

KJS will hang him out to dry after the Diocese repeatedly gets owned by the secular courts.

[ArmyTeach]

Whoo-hoo! I've been tracking my earliest childhood church in Fairfax, VA. It was Episcopalian and now seems to be one of the breakaway churches affiliated with the Anglican church. From its website it sounds dynamic and almost evangelical. Hope the courts continue to let the church hold onto its property. Too cool! I loved Truro.

[sionnsar]

Thanks to rabscuttle385 for the ping.

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[WashingtonSource]

Hip Hip Hooray!
Glory Be!
Praise the Lord!