Presiding Bishop Taps Episcopal Lawyers to Fund TEC Lawsuits

By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
12/10/2008

The Episcopal Church is desperate for funds to litigate against fleeing dioceses and parishes.

So much so that Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori is asking members of the St. Ives Guild of the Diocese of New York for funds "to litigate and defend and protect Church property against those who wish to secure the property on behalf of a foreign province."

In a letter written by the Rev. Canon Charles Robertson, the Presiding Bishop's canon, he writes, "the Church takes this action in order to ensure that the heritage of the Church will be preserved for the Church's service to God's mission, both now and for generations to come."

"As someone engaged in the legal profession, you understand that the cost of such litigation can be significant. In an effort to alleviate the pressure such litigation has placed on the Church's financial resources (which are needed for its broader mission work), the Church has recently established the St. Ives Fund, named in honor of the patron saint of lawyers."

"The Fund is intended to support the Church's heritage and to decrease demands on its budgets for mission and ministry by providing financial assistance for the legal costs associated with these property litigations. In addition, the Fund will serve as a vehicle for the support of the Church, generally, by members of the legal profession and others who may wish to participate. Use of the monies accumulated by the Fund will be at the discretion of the Presiding Bishop, after consultation with the Church's Treasurer and the St. Ives Advisory Board."

One observer noted that there will be a decade of lawsuits and appeals to reclaim properties just from the four dioceses that have left TEC and are still occupying their buildings.

VOL has learned that the National Church is "re-naming" a number of trusts with "archaic" language in the purpose statements for different uses than perhaps for what they were established. [e.g., trusts for running Chautauqua's for training Sunday School teachers would be considered archaic language.]

According to the Executive Council minutes from February and October 2008, they have pulled $900,000 in trusts just to re-establish the three dioceses - San Joaquin, Pittsburgh and Ft. Worth -- that have seceded from TEC.

There will not be enough money to litigate the AMiA, CANA, Southern Cone, Kenya parishes still in their buildings, said the source.

Furthermore, the National Church has taken a huge hit with the fall of the stock market. Estimated losses range from 25% to 40%.

VOL believes that Jefferts Schori is seeking money and assistance for this battle from every corner that may be viable, gathering all the possible elements together and then giving them assignments.

Said someone who knows her, "She plans; she strategizes and does so much more publicly than Frank Griswold or Ed Browning. She will learn to hold her cards closer to the chest."

END