Episcopal Church To Take Back $40 Million in Property from Anti-Gay Factions

It's been a long legal battle, but the Episcopal Church in Northern Virginia is about to retake $40 million in property and buildings that had been seized by break away anti-gay elements that aligned themselves in some instances with anti-gay prelate Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria. Rather tellingly, Akinola is suspected in some circles of having ordered the massacre of over 600 Muslims, including women and children. That the break away factions would affiliate with such a person speaks volumes to me about their utter perversion of the Gospel message. The break away factions had tried to justify their seizure of the property on the basis of a Civil War era law that had been passed by the Virginia General Assembly so that pro-slavery Baptist churches - many of which became part of the Southern Baptist Convention - could steal the property of the anti-slavery national denomination. While Virginia is racing backward in time under the GOP controlled General Assembly, at least this ruse failed. The Washington Post looks at the long over due return of the stolen property. Here are highlights:

[A]fter a prolonged and bitter legal battle with former members who broke away and took with them more than $40 million worth of church property, the Episcopal Church and the members who stayed with the denomination are on the verge of taking back their buildings, which include some the faith’s largest, most prominent churches in the region.

After a judge’s ruling last month in favor of the Episcopal Church, settlement talks are underway for a massive property swap that would bring to an end the most expensive litigation — and perhaps the most watched — in Episcopal Church history. While the breakaway congregations still can appeal, both sides said they are trying to work out the details of the property turnover. “Everyone is moving on the assumption that they need to be prepared to move,” said Scott Ward, attorney for the Falls Church congregants who broke away.

The two sides are so close to a settlement that the Falls Church members who remained with the Episcopal Church and have been meeting in a Presbyterian church basement across the street are planning Easter services back in their old church, a large, historic property.

It is not overstating the case to say that this is one of the most defining moments in all of our 400-year history,” Bishop Shannon Johnston said.

When the conservative congregations voted to leave the Episcopal Church in late 2006 and early 2007, the case drew worldwide attention. The breakaway members said the denomination had grown too liberal in its theology, and they objected to its ordaining gay clergy and celebrating same-sex relationships, among other things. They chose to become part of the booming, conservative Anglican Church of Nigeria, a separate branch of worldwide Anglicanism.

Last month, Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Randy Bellows sided with the Episcopal Church in a ruling that cited Virginia real estate law. In his 113-page opinion, Bellows said the deeds and other documents show the properties belong to the Episcopal Church. He ordered the seven breakaway congregations to leave every single dollar and item that existed before the split to the denomination.

The breakaway congregations are now accounting for prayer books, robes and artwork and preparing to leave centrally located, sprawling complexes for the likelihood of a rented high school gym. The future is in limbo for four preschools that operated in the buildings.

Score a win for the good guys. I cannot say that I wish the break away factions well since they put hate and bigotry ahead of loving and serving others as the Gospels direct.