St. Francis on the Hill church elects to leave Episcopal Church

By Diana Washington Valdez / El Paso Times

Article Launched: 10/27/2008 04:43:31 PM MDT

EL PASO - St. Francis-on-the-Hill in West El Paso has elected to leave the Episcopal Church of the U.S.A, according to an announcement by the Very Rev. Mark Goodman of the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande in Albuquerque.

The church also is leaving Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande.

The vestry of St. Francis-on-the-Hill in El Paso voted Oct. 21 to leave the Episcopal Church, with a majority in favor of the action, Goodman said.

"This decision comes after meetings between the congregation, the president of the standing committee and the assisting bishop of the Diocese of the Rio Grande, the Right Rev. William Frey," Goodman said.

"At those meetings, Bishop Frey and Canon Kelly made it clear to the congregation that, if they made the decision to leave the Episcopal Church, they could not take their property with them."

Last year, the Church of St. Clement in El Paso also left the Episcopal Church, citing doctrinal differences with the national Episcopal Church. Information: Goodman, (505) 328-6157.

EL PASO - St. Francis-on-the-Hill in West El Paso has elected to leave the Episcopal Church, according to an announcement by the Very Rev. Mark Goodman of the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande in Albuquerque.

The vestry of St. Francis-on-the-Hill in El Paso voted Oct. 21 to leave the Episcopal Church, with a majority in favor of the action, Goodman said.

"This decision comes after meetings between the congregation, the president of the standing
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committee and the assisting bishop of the Diocese of the Rio Grande, the Right Rev. William Frey," Goodman said.

"At those meetings, Bishop Frey and Canon Kelly made it clear to the congregation that, if they made the decision to leave the Episcopal Church, they could not take their property with them."

A post on the St. Francis-on-the-Hill Web site Monday disputes the claim on the property.

"We have the title and deed to our property," Ron Munden, a St. Francis vestry member, said on the Web site. "Since the Episcopal Church passed a Canon, or church law, in the 1970's that said all Episcopal churches' properties were to be held in trust by the Diocese for the U.S. Episcopal Church, St. Francis on the Hill has denied this claim in official notices to the TEC. As early as 2004, we let it be known that our by-laws clearly outlined how and why we owned our own property. We built this church with money from our parishioners - not one dime came from the Episcopal Church or from the Diocese. This church and grounds belong to St. Francis on the Hill, and The Episcopal Church clearly knows of our unique situation here and our position on this matter."

Last year, the Church of St. Clement in El Paso also left the Episcopal Church, citing doctrinal differences with the national Episcopal Church. Information: http://www.stfrancisonthehill.org/