TEC: Lawsuits, Not Reconciliation

Episcopal of Diocese of Virginia cuts off negotiations following meeting with 815
Anglican Congregations in Virginia Decry Decision by Episcopal Diocese to Halt Property Negotiations

Congregations’ leaders express profound disappointment and call again on the Diocese and now The Episcopal Church for amicable settlements

FAIRFAX and FALLS CHURCH , Va. , Jan. 9 – Leaders of The Falls Church, Truro Church and other Anglican churches in Virginia expressed their profound disappointment over a decision by the Diocese of Virginia to call off negotiations aimed at reaching amicable property settlements. They decried the expenditure of valuable resources to litigate property issues versus the myriad benefits of devoting time, energy, prayer and other resources to unifying mission work.

“We are greatly saddened by this regrettable decision by the Diocese. We urge the Diocese and The Episcopal Church to return, with all the Christian charity each of us can muster, to the important work of reaching amicable settlements,” said the Rev. John Yates, Rector, The Falls Church.

The actions of the Diocese follow a meeting on Monday between the Diocese and David Booth Beers, Chancellor of The Episcopal Church (TEC). TEC has also indicated to the congregations that it intends to intervene in these Virginia matters. This new move constitutes a change of position by the present Presiding Bishop from her predecessor, who had indicated that resolution of property issues should be left to individual dioceses.

The Diocese’s cessation of negotiations comes after Bishop Peter Lee appointed Yates and two other leaders representing The Falls Church and Truro Church , as well as, three representatives of the Diocese, to serve on a committee to develop a protocol expressly designed to avoid litigation. After unanimously agreeing to the protocol, all six committee members presented it to Lee September 28, 2006. Lee frequently called this protocol a “useful way forward” as a means of staying out of court.

The moves toward litigation by the Diocese and the national church appear at odds with the Diocese’s announcement of a “Property Commission” on December 18, 2006. It charged this commission with “addressing matters of real and personal property on behalf of the Diocese.” Its first meeting was less than two weeks ago and congregations were in the process of responding to various requests from the Diocese.

Despite the growing tensions between these churches and the Diocese, Yates and Jim Oakes, Senior Warden at Truro Church, reaffirmed that all individuals, Anglican, Episcopalian or otherwise are welcome in worship at these churches and the growing number of Anglican churches throughout the region.

Yates emphasized “we are following the express determination of our congregations which voted by substantial majorities in mid-December to sever ties with The Episcopal Church over its disregard for the authority of Holy Scripture and departure from the historic teaching of the Anglican Communion,” Yates added.

Yates joined Oakes in repeating a few of the basic facts that underscore why these congregations own their property. First and foremost, they said, the deeds generally grant the property to local congregations, not the Diocese. Second, Virginia courts have said more than once that so-called denomination “trusts” in congregational property are not valid in the state. Third, congregations’ properties have been purchased, built, improved and maintained with donations from the members of each congregation, not from the Diocese. Fourth, the flow of financial support has run from the congregations to the Diocese, not the other way around.

The division within the Anglican Communion and its subparts, the Episcopal Church U.S.A. and the Diocese of Virginia, has been recognized by authorities throughout the communion, including in the Diocese. Over the past year, the congregations in Virginia that have severed ties with the denomination represent about 15 percent of the average Sunday attendance and approximately 19 percent of congregational operating revenue in the Diocese. These congregations are larger than 52 of the U.S. dioceses in the denomination in terms of average Sunday attendance.

Other congregations in the Diocese of Southern Virginia and more than 100 other Episcopal congregations throughout the United States also have severed ties with The Episcopal Church in the U.S. in recent years.

Contact: Jim Pierobon, 301-520-1758