The Episcopal Church has spent nearly $2 million on legal expenses this year, more than four times its budgeted amount, and will run a deficit of $2.5 million in 2009, according to the church’s news service.
The denomination’s Executive Council, meeting in Helena, Mont., this week (Oct. 20-24), budgeted $450,000 for legal expenses in 2008 but spent $1.97 million, according to Episcopal News Service. The well-heeled denomination is engaged in a number of costly legal battles with conservatives who’ve left the Episcopal Church but seek to retain parish property.
Has anyone come up with a reliable estimate of the legal expenses the =dioceses= have incurred in 2007 and 2008 (beyond what may be included in the denomination’s total)?
The diocese of Virginia alone must account for quite a hefty sum. And in some of these cases, the losing party may be ordered to pay legal expenses of the winning party.
w.w.
I’m curious, if TEc (Cult) actually does find itself in the red, which budget will the money come from to pay the wasteful legal bills? Missions? Pensions?
H