Los Angeles Superior Court Rules That St. Luke\u2019s Congregation May Remain On the La Crescenta Church Property Pending Appeal<\/p>\n
La Crescenta, Calif. \u201d\u201c August 22, 2007 \u201d\u201c St. Luke\u2019s of the Mountains Church will continue to occupy the church property and buildings it has purchased and maintained for over 60 years, during the appeal of a ruling by the Los Angeles Superior Court on July 3, 2007. St. Luke\u2019s Church is located at 2563 Foothill Boulevard in La Crescenta, California, and was formerly affiliated with the Episcopal Church until it aligned with the Anglican Church of Uganda in February 2006. The Court had previously granted summary judgment in favor of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and The Episcopal Church on their claim to take over the property of St. Luke\u2019s based on an internal Episcopal rule, following a recent decision of the California Court of Appeal for the Fourth Appellate District. On August 15, 2007, St. Luke\u2019s Church appealed the Court\u2019s judgment against it.<\/p>\n
This morning, the Honorable John S. Wiley of the Los Angeles Superior Court granted a stay of the judgment pending appeal, which allows the St. Luke\u2019s congregation to remain in the La Crescenta church property until a final appellate ruling is made.<\/p>\n
The Court rejected the Episcopal demand that the local congregation deposit over $7 million \u201d\u201c based on a commercial valuation \u201d\u201c in exchange for permission to remain on the property. By doing so, the Court adopted St. Luke\u2019s arguments that the property was an historic church in continuous operation for many decades. In addition, the Court rejected the demand of the Episcopal Diocesan bishop, the Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno, that no other Christian bishops be permitted on the property without his prior permission. This demand was irrelevant to protecting the property from damage pending appeal, and instead would have served solely to deprive St.Luke\u2019s Church of visits from its spiritual leaders based on their church affiliation. St. Luke\u2019s Church will be required to protect and preserve the property
\npending appeal, and post a small bond which will be returned to the congregation if it ultimately prevails.<\/p>\n
St. Luke\u2019s has been a separate, California nonprofit religious corporation since 1940, and it will continue to hold worship services in La Crescenta.
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Los Angeles Superior Court Rules That St. Luke\u2019s Congregation May Remain On the La Crescenta Church Property Pending Appeal La Crescenta, Calif. \u201d\u201c August 22, 2007 \u201d\u201c St. Luke\u2019s of the Mountains Church will continue to occupy the church property…<\/span><\/p>\n