It’s been learned tonight that Bishop Peter James Lee and the Diocese of Virginia have requested that Christ Church Alexandria deed their disputed church property personally to the Bishop of Virginia.
A congregational vote is scheduled for this Sunday.
According to the current rector of Christ Church, Pierce Klemmt and Senior Warden, Rawles Jones, “the Diocese has asked Christ Church to quitclaim its interest in the property to the Diocese.” In a letter sent to members of the congregation, they write that “The Vestry has considered this course of action and recommends it to the Congregation.”
The Diocese of Virginia is pursuing the people of Christ Church Alexandria to turn control of their property over to the Bishop of Virginia in Richmond.
When they come for the deeds to the smaller, historic churches in DioVA, I want tickets to that event. I know many of those people and this idea won’t be well received, to put it mildly…
In asking Christ Church to deed him the property, however, it rather makes the point that the property is not in fact the diocese’s or 815’s, but requires a parish vote. It also in effect ratifies the right of a parish to make such a vote. Given these effects of what he is asking Christ Church to do, this suggests pure desperation.
It would be a breach of the vestry’s fiduciary duty to Christ Church to give away church property to another entity, especially under the court decisions coming out in Virginia. They would be personally liable for defalcation. I sure hope they are consulting with a lawyer, who should advise them “no way.”
I don’t get this. Why would they give their property to a person? What if he up and sells it to pay the diocese’s legal bills? Where’s the accountability?
There’s no need to rush the vote. To be careful, they ought to vote “no”, and if desired, carefully consider the consequences.
This is all about helping the Diocese pave the way stealing away TFC. Remember recently that CCA claims to have some deed showing they “own” TFC. So if the Dio. Va. takes over CCA, they also take over the claim to TFC.
Beam me up Scotty…..
I don’t believe that Bishop Lee is concerned about the small parishes, say, with Plate & Pledge of less than $150,000. They can’t afford to leave; however, the present lawsuit’s outcome may somewhat alter their ability to do so. Most will stay with TEC and wither away. There isn’t much of a market for old church buildings, especially, if in rural areas and with cemeteries. Statmann