Forty seven parishes and missions of the diocese have filed a Plea in Intervention in the lawsuit against the diocese that is currently before the 141st District Court. Collectively, the 47 churches are termed the “Intervening Congregations.”
The plea asks the court to acknowledge through a declaratory judgment that, “in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, the title to the real property being occupied and subject to the control of Intervening Congregations is held by the Corporation of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth in trust for the use and benefit of each Intervening Congregation” and that this trust relationship is superior to any other claims.
The district court cannot consider this because the court of appeals has ordered it to stop all action until the appeals court helps clarify who exactly is suing the Diocese of Fort Worth. The appeals court won’t begin to move on that issue before January 11th, after it hears from both sides.
Am I the only one who finds it confusing to determine which group is which, at least on paper?
You’re not the only one confused. I don’t know why the Iker diocese holds on the EPiscopal Church name, since they hold the Episcopal Church in such disdain.
Graydon, Dallasite, “Episcopal” is the official name of Iker’s corporation, that holds title to the diocesan property and holds a trust to all the parish property. If they give up the name, they weaken their claim to the property, and strengthen the contention of Ohl’s group that they are the people who own the corporation and the property.
Once all the lawsuits are squashed, you can count on +Iker (or his successor) to change their name to Anglican.