Posted on 04/21/2006 4:34:38 PM PDT by Presbyterian Reporter
The Diocese of San Diego has experienced the defection of two parishes within the past few months. The congregation of Christ the King in Alpine chose to leave behind its church building, but the leadership of St. Anne’s, Oceanside, said the congregation has no intention of moving. California courts generally do not defer to church canons relying instead on neutral principles of law to adjudicate church property disputes. As a result of lower court rulings last year, three parishes in the Diocese of Los Angeles were permitted to retain their property after voting to leave the Episcopal Church. The decision is being appealed.
The Rt. Rev. James R. Mathes, Bishop of San Diego, issued a pastoral directive April 19 that requires all rectors in his jurisdiction to submit by May 20 copies of parish articles of incorporation, parish by-laws, employment contracts, title to a real property, balance sheets for the past two years and evidence of appropriate surety bond as required by canons.
“If you and your congregation pursue an effort at secession, you will at that moment be in violation of your ordination vows,” Bishop Mathes wrote. “By this pastoral direction, you will be, by that very act or by your participation, an inhibited priest and deprived of standing or canonical or legal authority to do the very action you purport to effect. In issuing this pastoral direction, it is my hope that the issue of attempted congregational secession can be conclusively addressed and that we can concentrate on what is our common work together.”
The Episcopals and the Presbyterians will both be having their general conventions during the week of June 13 to 21.
Expect more fireworks in the next 6 weeks as the leftists controlling both of these denominations exert their power.
Thanks for the post.
Please keep us informed as we move through the next few months.
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
I tagged this one with the 'churchproperty' keyword. If you run across any stories dealing with legal issues involving church property fights, that keyword would help tie it in.
I wouldn't be surprised to see another couple of hundred PCUSA churches split, including some of the big ones, if they formalize local option homosexual ordination and marriage. How are you handicapping it?
Actually, what Mathes said was more like:
"I AM YOUR GOD! BOW BEFORE ME YOU INSOLENT MAGGOTS!"
But, you have to read between the lines to get that.n
I would estmate about the same number (200) of PCUSA churches will leave soon after the local option on ordaining homosexuals is approved.
A couple of presbyteries will vote to approve the dismissal of all the churches within their presbytery and most of them will leave for greener pastures and the remainder will vote themselves to return to the PCUSA.
Other churches will leave by themselves.
Most of the PCUSA churches will continue to have their false hopes that the future will be well and will stay with the denomination. Our prayers go these churches with their head in the sand. They truly must enjoy reading bad news about their denomination every day.
San Diego was my first thought when I read that, but I can't really think of a second.
San Joaquin Presbytery has signaled their disgust.
Stockton Presbytery sent up an overture to remove the property held in trust clause from the book of order.
Peace River Presbytery is making noises.
Beaver-Butler can usually be counted on to take a hard line.
Central Washington could be a player
Thanks.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.