Free Republic

“A bill that would have given congregations that break away from their denomination leverage to retain control of church property died Monday in the state Senate. Its sponsor, Sen. William Mims (R-Loudoun), recommended that the measure be referred back to the Senate General Laws Committee, effectively killing the bill. “My hope is, Mr. President, that it can be solved in the legislative session next year,” said Mims. The bill created an uproar among many of Virginia’s religious leaders, who argued it was drafted in response to the 2003 consecration of the first openly gay Episcopal bishop. Bishop V. Gene Robinson’s...

Both houses of the General Assembly have passed bills that would prohibit localities from requiring developers to contribute to affordable-housing trust funds or provide affordable-housing units as part of the development process. The bills are a swipe at Arlington County, which last year enacted legislation to do just that. The new rules, which county officials said were voluntary but critics contended were mandatory, were summarily tossed out in December by Circuit Court Judge Joanne Alper. County officials say they plan to appeal her ruling. The Senate bill, sponsored by Loudoun Republican Sen. Bill Mims, passed by a 24-16 vote. The...

A church property bill before the Virginia Senate, if passed, could set off massive defections of churches from their denominations with implications for other states, and repercussions for several Episcopal dioceses currently embroiled in property disputes. Virginia State legislator William C. Mims, who is himself an Episcopalian, attorney and active in church law and church property issues, wants to give local congregations the power to break away from their national denominations, many of whom are deeply divided over theological and moral issues especially the ordination of avowed homosexuals to the priesthood and gay civil unions. The bill is in its...

Bishop frightened of proposed legislation: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ClergyNet_VaUMC/message/3907 Text of the Virginia Senate Bill 1305: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?051+ful+SB1305 (this has italics and strikeouts showing current/new) Read it below: --- From: "vaumccommunications" Date: Fri Jan 28, 2005 4:57 pm Subject: From Bishop Kammerer and Clark Williams To: All Clergy in the Virginia Annual Conference From: Bishop Charlene Kammerer Clark Williams, Conference co-Chancellor Re: Senate Bill #1305 Attempt to Nullify the Trust Clause Dear Colleagues - A new piece of proposed legislation is currently pending in the Virginia State Senate which, if adopted into law, would have serious adverse consequences for many churches in the Commonwealth...

A Senate committee advanced legislation yesterday that would prohibit smoking in most public, indoor places in Virginia. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Bill Mims, R-Loudoun, was approved by the Senate Education and Health Committee on an 8-7 vote, reversing an earlier Senate subcommittee vote that narrowly rejected the bill. The legislation would prohibit smoking in most indoor public places, including offices, restaurants, and common areas of apartments and condominiums, with few exceptions. Hotels could permit smoking in some rooms, as long they do not exceed 25 percent of the total rooms. Smoking would be permitted in "private, separately enclosed areas"...