U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear Falls Church Anglican case

[hrmjustin]

Mary Frances Schjonberg

[Episcopal News Service] More than seven years after a majority of clergy and members of several Diocese of Virginia congregations declared they had left the Episcopal Church and the question of ownership of the property involved began to be litigated, the U.S. Supreme Court refused on March 10 to hear the appeal of the last congregation still at odds with the Episcopal Church and the diocese.

The court gave no reason for deciding not to review a 2013 ruling by the Virginia Supreme Court reaffirming an earlier circuit court ruling that returned

The Falls Church property to loyal Episcopalians to use for the mission of the Diocese of Virginia and the Episcopal Church. The court’s decision was included in its March 10 order list and was one of 121 requests for review that it refused.

All that remains in the case is for the Diocese of Virginia to request an order from the Fairfax Circuit Court releasing to the diocese more than $2.6 million that was in the Falls Church’s bank accounts at the time of the split and that the court has been holding in escrow during the progression of the case.

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2014/03/10/u-s-supreme-court-refuses-to-hear-falls-church-anglican-case/

[goldent]

1. I don't know any of the details

but on the face of it, I think if a group of members leaves a Church, they leave what they have given behind.

[hrmjustin]

2. Well serveral former Episcopalians left after Gene Robinson was ordained a bishop.

They found out that the Episcopal Church has strong laws of incorporation and almost always get the property.