In May, Bishop Martyn Minns became head of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, a conservative group with ties to Nigeria. Minns, 64, led 11 Virginia congregations to break ties with the Episcopal Church last year. For 16 years, he has been rector of the historic Truro Church, where George Washington’s father once served on the vestry. Now, Minns prepares for a battle with the denomination he left behind.
Why did you decide to leave the Episcopal Church?
I really do believe that the Episcopal Church kind of left me. They have moved to adopt positions and attitudes that are at odds with where the rest of the Anglican Communion is and where I am. And so in that sense, I’ve not really changed that much. But they have.
Why not stay put and practice your beliefs in your own church?
That’s obviously something I tried to do. But the problem I had is that most of the congregation here felt they could no longer continue in that mode, and in fact, we lost over 100 families. They voted with their feet.
What are the consequences of your decision?
We’re actually now facing potentially the largest lawsuit the Episcopal Church has ever initiated against congregations. They are trying to evict us and indeed to take all of our property and all of our resources away from us. … Our replacement cost is estimated at about $30-million, and we’re just one of the churches.
I pray the national Church loses these lawsuits hands down and then required to pay each parish a serious damage penalty for putting them through this. A handful of judgements like that may finally force 815 to let people, priests, parishes and whole dioceses go in peace,
David+
I’m not sure the reasserters are getting the point on the property issue. ++Katharine will fight for every piece of property – regardless of the cost. Look at CA. – the Church has even been sanctioned for bringing suits and they continue anyway. No amount of loss will cause TEC to give up.
All we can do is stay in the trenches and fight. The Pb’s battle cry seems to be “..Put up or ship out..” I’m not leaving yet, but she doesn’t make it any easier
What will happen if ECUSA loses several dioceses?
Threat of lawsuits has replaced the love of Christ as the glue that holds the TEC together. Only the larger churches can withstand the attack dog lawyers released on churches considering leaving. The hierarchy would prefer the smaller churches fizzle and die than allow them to escape the sinking ship (Yes, I know. I am mixing metaphors!)
Give often and generously. Consider tithing. The partners of Sue, Grabbit and Runne need your money.
TEC is playing with fire, if not dynamite. When the dioceses lost the lawsuits they filed against departing churches in Los Angeles and San Diego, the courts awarded the churches reimbursement of their legal defense costs. The plaintiffs must pay not only their own considerable legal fees but also those of the defendants. (True, it may take a while to collect, until the appeals also fail — but with the meter continuing to run.) TEC and the dioceses face enormous risk.
Does anyone know whether TEC joined the lawsuits against the Virginia churches? Or did Beers and the other courageous leaders at 815 force Bp Lee and the Va. diocese to walk the plank alone? Did I understand correctly from an earlier T19 post that Falls Church’s legal bills are in the $300,000 range so far? Truro’s must be a significant amount. And that’s just two of the 11 churches. With the first court hearings still months away. All the lawyers’ $$$ meters meanwhile are running.
Are the people in the diocesan pews aware of the huge liability that may be theirs if the court(s) rule against the diocese (and TEC)?
A few big court losses for TEC and its dioceses across the country could result in an uprising against TEC and its fearless, unthinking, big-spending leaders that will make all the defections so far to alternate Anglican refuge pale in comparison.
w.w.
The only people who will win financially are the lawyers, and I wonder how long TEC will be able to bear the costs? If their lawyers’ fees average $300-$400 an hour, the cost is going to be astronomical! Then there’s the allegation that David Booth Beers’ law firm is handling the case…..with a probable conflict of interest, since he’s also TEC’s Chancellor. I certainly don’t see any of the partners doing this work pro bono.
The legal work for TEC has all been done pro bonehead.
Tone your comments down, please, Wilfred. Let’s be civil.