Building on two recent amicable agreements that settled parish property disputes, the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh has invited all other local congregations leaving the Episcopal Church to begin conversations aimed at reaching similar negotiated settlements.
In a February 17th letter mailed to the rector, wardens, and vestry of each congregation, Bishop Kenneth L. Price, Jr. of the Episcopal Diocese offered a Pastoral Direction for resolving property issues, including an 8-point overview of what would be involved in those conversations.
The documents were sent to 41 parishes that have not participated in the Episcopal Diocese since October 2008. Copies were sent as a courtesy to the many parishes that have remained active in the Diocese. The bishop’s letter also pointed to consequences required by church law for parishes that keep themselves removed from the Diocese for a prolonged time.
They won’t negotiate with them all together, only one at a time. Divide and conquer. Make them pay more lawyers. Grrr.
Susan Peterson
eulogos
According to Father Bruce (in a previous post) Paragraph Two of the 2005 Stipulation signed by the then Bishop of Pittsburgh, Bishop Duncan, “indicates that any congregation desiring to remove itself legally and canonically from the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh of the Episcopal Church should enter into negotiation about the resolution of property issues and other obligations with the canonical authorities of that diocese—the Bishop and the Board of Trustees”.
I think Bishop Duncan made a costly mistake by signing that stipulation. The Pittsburgh parishes that followed him out of TEC will have to live by it.
I’m not sure I understand Eugene. The current Episcopal “diocese” asserts that no parishes are *able* to leave the diocese — remember? Only “individuals” may leave — not parishes.
And of course, a “parish” can enter into negotiations quite nicely through its overseeing organization — ACNA — anyway.
Nope — we all see this for what it is. An enraged, spiteful — and fearful — action from the leaders of the Episcopal “diocese” — they hate and fear ACNA. And they simply cannot bear the competition from ACNA. And so they are working as hard as they can to eliminate it.
Thankfully — Duncan has given a nice godly admonition that eliminates the possibility of secret parish negotiations with the Episcopal “diocese.”
Sarah,
I agree with you that negotiations [i]should[/i] be global, but I’m not sure the Archbishop’s godly admonition “eliminates” the possibility.
The current Pittsburgh ACNA canons vest the parish property in the parishes (there’s even provision for disaffiliation). So there can’t be any compulsion from above; if another parish chose to emulate St. Philip’s and Somerset Anglican Fellowship, I’m not sure they can be prevented.
Hopefully, they won’t. There were some signs today that give grounds for hope.
[url=http://catholicandreformed.blogspot.com]Catholic and Reformed[/url]
And the [url=http://catholicandreformed.blogspot.com/2011/02/breaking-logjam-post-realigment.html]report[/url] is in, for those interested.
It was an interesting two hours.