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Judge: Local church belongs to parish, not Episcopal diocese
VirtueOnline ^ | 8/15/05

Posted on 08/17/2005 1:12:26 PM PDT by dukeman

PRESS RELEASE
St. James Anglican Church
Newport Beach, CA

August 15, 2005

St. James Anglican Church, Newport Beach, today was vindicated in its fight to prevent the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles from confiscating its property after a judge dismissed the diocese¹s lawsuit. Judge David C. Velasquez of the Orange County Superior Court ruled that the diocese¹s lawsuit arose from protected free speech rights on matters of public interest, and therefore could not proceed:

"The court finds defendants have made a prima facie showing they are being sued for acts arising from and in furtherance of their publicly expressed disagreement with the [Episcopal] Church's views concerning the consecration of homosexual clergy, specifically by voting to break ties with the Church, by amending the parish¹s articles of incorporation, and submitting a press release announcing the reasons for separation. Such acts arise out of and are in furtherance of the defendants' exercise if the right to speak on a matter of 'public interest'."

The lawsuit¹s dismissal means that St. James Church will retain legal possession of its church buildings, property and financial records. It also brings to a close almost a year of uncertainty for the members of St. James Church over the potential loss of a place to worship, their financial contributions and even their hymnals. One year ago todaytomorrow, the church disassociated from the diocese and the Episcopal Church USA because of theological differences, which drew international attention because of similar issues facing the Episcopal Church and worldwide Anglican Communion.

"It is a great relief to the loyal members of our church to see this lawsuit dismissed and to know that the sanctuary and grounds where we gather every Sunday will remain a safe harbor for us," said Father Praveen Bunyan of St. James Church. "We will go forth with a light heart and turn all our attention on the mission that God has given us: to be faithful to Him, to accept His Only Son as our Savior and to spread his Holy Word. The church will continue its ministry as it has since it was founded."

Judge Velasquez ruled on two motions that are favorable to St. James Church. First, he ruled that St. James prevailed on its first anti-SLAPP motion to dismiss the diocese¹s original complaint. ³SLAPP² stands for Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation.

The statute authorizing this legal defense was designed to prevent civil lawsuits with little merit from being filed by large private interests to deter individuals from exercising their political or legal rights to free speech or to petition the government. St. James attorneys argued that the Diocese of Los Angeles is a wealthy and powerful religious corporation that was trying to stifle these fundamental rights when church members publicly spoke out about their disagreements with the Episcopal Church, including through the act of disaffiliation itself.

"Few things are as precious to Americans as the right to free speech and the right to own property. This aggressive and ill-conceived lawsuit by the Diocese of Los Angeles offended both, as it was really aimed at punishing and making an example of St. James Church for publicly disagreeing with the direction of the Episcopal Church, and taking a stand by disaffiliating from it." said Eric C. Sohlgren of Payne & Fears, LLP, Irvine, the lead attorney for St. James Church.

Another court ruling granted a second anti-SLAPP motion brought by St. James to strike down an amended complaint filed by the diocese in May. The judge concluded that the diocese altered its original lawsuit to correct "perceived deficiencies" brought to light by the first anti-SLAPP motion, but it still had no chance of success.

"The court finds that plaintiffs have not established a legally cognizable claim supported by competent evidence," Valesquez wrote. "In support of their claims, plaintiffs rely on legal propositions which are not the law in California."

The diocese argued that the California courts must defer to internal church rules, known as canons, in disputes over church property, although that argument was repudiated by California courts decades ago. The judge also rejected the diocese's contention that St. James Church property was being held in express trust for the Episcopal Church:

"No evidence has been presented that the parish, its board or its governing documents contain an express commitment to place parish property in trust for the benefit of the [Episcopal] Church, " Valesquez wrote. Another hearing will be held in September to determine the amount of legal fees and costs that St. James will be entitled to recover from the diocese after having prevailed on its anti-SLAPP motions.

The court¹s rulings do not affect a countersuit brought by St. James against the Diocese of Los Angeles and Bishop Jon Bruno alleging that the diocese breached a written promise made in 1991 that it would not attempt to claim St. James property. The status of a claim brought by the national Episcopal Church when it intervened in the lawsuit, is uncertain.

On August 16, 2004, the membership of St. James Church voted overwhelmingly to disassociate from the Episcopal Church USA over issues of Biblical orthodoxy and to join the Anglican Province of Uganda in the Diocese of Luweero, which is a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

The members then voted to amend the church's Articles of Incorporation to reflect the change, and filed it with the California Secretary of State. The lawsuit filed by the diocese to seize church property referred to their democratic action as a corporate "takeover" by the church leadership. Volunteer directors at the church were named in the lawsuit, along with the church itself.

"The Diocese of Los Angeles and Bishop Jon Bruno could not stop St. James Church from following the traditional teachings of the Anglican Communion, so they tried to intimidate the church and take away its property so the members would have no place to worship," Sohlgren said. "It was clearly an attempt to confiscate property that does not legally belong to the Episcopal Church, and now it has failed."

The membership of All Saints' Church in Long Beach and St. David's Church in North Hollywood also disassociated from the Episcopal Church. They have filed similar anti-SLAPP motions that will be heard separately by the court at a later date.


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Good.
1 posted on 08/17/2005 1:12:27 PM PDT by dukeman
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To: dukeman

Good to see. Unfortunately, Liberal elites have slimed their way into certain Church hierarchies.


2 posted on 08/17/2005 1:14:27 PM PDT by Rosemont
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To: dukeman
On August 16, 2004, the membership of St. James Church voted overwhelmingly to disassociate from the Episcopal Church USA over issues of Biblical orthodoxy and to join the Anglican Province of Uganda in the Diocese of Luweero, which is a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

The members then voted to amend the church's Articles of Incorporation to reflect the change, and filed it with the California Secretary of State. The lawsuit filed by the diocese to seize church property referred to their democratic action as a corporate "takeover" by the church leadership. Volunteer directors at the church were named in the lawsuit, along with the church itself.

It always comes down to the money/stuff. You might think that the diocese would be upset over wholesale "defections" of church membership...

3 posted on 08/17/2005 1:16:55 PM PDT by 2banana (My common ground with terrorists - They want to die for Islam, and we want to kill them.)
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To: dukeman
The new Bishop is in Uganda?
4 posted on 08/17/2005 1:22:06 PM PDT by Mike Darancette (Mesocons for Rice '08)
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To: dukeman

Yes, very good. Interesting that they had to turn to Uganda to find an Episcopal diocese that stood firem on tradition.


5 posted on 08/17/2005 1:24:12 PM PDT by Malesherbes
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To: dukeman
A similar thing happened in my hometown (Roanoke, Virginia) a few years ago. The parish broke away from rhe Doicese because of the increasingly liberal Church heirarchy. They own their property, so the Diocese could do nothing.

Maybe if this continues, the Church leaders will come to their senses.

6 posted on 08/17/2005 1:25:42 PM PDT by DeeOhGee (Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati)
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To: dukeman

Under whose name is the property? For most denominations all properties are in the name of the denomination, not the local church/parish. If the deed is in the name of the local parish, the denomination has no case. If the property is in the name of the denomination, the ruling will be overturned. It has nothing to do with free speech rights and everything to do with who legally owns the property as far as I can see.


7 posted on 08/17/2005 1:26:48 PM PDT by ZGuy
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To: Mike Darancette
The new Bishop is in Uganda?

Yes. African bishops have been particularly strong in their rebuke of unbiblical practices in the mainline Episcopal Church. Africa and Latin America are on fire right now for the Lord. The flame is nearly out in secular Europe and it is dimmed in parts of North America, so these believers must turn to Africa. God is at work in this....

8 posted on 08/17/2005 1:31:31 PM PDT by dukeman
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To: ZGuy

The interesting thing to me is that this case was decided on free speech grounds rather than property law and/or the law of non-profit organizations. Seems like some creative advocacy by the parish's lawyers.


9 posted on 08/17/2005 1:33:31 PM PDT by dukeman
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To: dukeman

Yes it is. It is about time churches stand against the apostates and satanists who control the denominational bureaucracies in far too many denominations.


10 posted on 08/17/2005 1:38:37 PM PDT by justshutupandtakeit (Public Enemy #1, the RATmedia.)
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To: ZGuy
If the property is in the name of the denomination, the ruling will be overturned. It has nothing to do with free speech rights and everything to do with who legally owns the property as far as I can see.

They were arguing that the Diocese had control of the property. The parish did not leave the Church they just changed Diocese.

11 posted on 08/17/2005 1:42:05 PM PDT by Mike Darancette (Mesocons for Rice '08)
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To: sionnsar

You've gotta see this.


12 posted on 08/17/2005 1:43:17 PM PDT by kidd
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This will open the floodgates.


13 posted on 08/17/2005 1:45:04 PM PDT by vollmond (Careful with that axe, Eugene!)
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To: dukeman

I believe the Romans are importing African Priests to the US as well, though there is a fear that some are joining the priesthood for power and to escape poverty rather than from a true calling.


14 posted on 08/17/2005 1:47:49 PM PDT by johnb838 (Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.)
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To: Mike Darancette
Could you double check that? The article states "One year ago today tomorrow, the church disassociated from the diocese and the Episcopal Church USA because of theological differences,"
15 posted on 08/17/2005 1:50:56 PM PDT by ZGuy
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To: johnb838

Asian Presbyterians, mostly Koreans, are traveling to Europe as missionaries. Imagine that!


16 posted on 08/17/2005 1:51:30 PM PDT by dukeman
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To: ahadams2; Fractal Trader; Zero Sum; anselmcantuar; Agrarian; coffeecup; Paridel; keilimon; ...
You've gotta see this.

Thanks, kidd! There's a bit more information yet...

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 and newheart.

Resource for Traditional Anglicans: http://trad-anglican.faithweb.com

Humor: The Anglican Blue (by Huber)

Speak the truth in love. Eph 4:15

17 posted on 08/17/2005 1:58:28 PM PDT by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com† || (To Libs:) You are failing to celebrate MY diversity || Iran Azadi)
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To: sionnsar
It looks like you and your ping-mates might enjoy seeing how left-wingers select a "church".
18 posted on 08/17/2005 2:12:17 PM PDT by dukeman
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To: dukeman

Related posts:

Episcopal Diocese of L. A. has self-inflicted egg on face
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1464328/posts


Court Dismisses Diocese of Los Angeles Lawsuit Against Saint James Parish
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1464008/posts


19 posted on 08/17/2005 2:20:40 PM PDT by PAR35
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To: johnb838

This has nothing to do with importing priests from Africa. The ECUSA has no trouble recruiting priests right here from MoveOn.org and GLSEN. Since the legacy Anglican Church in the US, the ECUSA has effectively left the Christian faith to move to some Zen-Wiccan hybrid with incense and vestments, faithful Anglicans are simply looking elsewhere in the Anglican communion oversight. Search on Peter Akinola to understand why Uganda.


20 posted on 08/17/2005 3:15:48 PM PDT by Huber (For a leftist to become open-minded, they must first come to know Christ)
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