The Supreme Court of Virginia just ruled in favor of the Episcopal Church of the Diocese of Virginia, but the ongoing debate over which religious group owns church property could last for years to come.<\/p>\n
The property tug-of-war is far different from the common real estate fights that Henry Burt, secretary of the diocese, dealt with during his days as a lawyer at a big firm.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis dispute would be a lot simpler if we were arguing over ownership of an office building in Rosslyn or on K Street,\u201d\u009d said Burt. Those types of property battles between two parties, he explains, typically involve money and can get resolved fairly quickly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we have here are not simply property issues,” he said. “This is not about property or money — it\u2019s about sacred space. Places where generations of Episcopalians have gotten married, baptized and buried loved ones. We have an obligation and duty to protect that legacy.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n