Eleven Virginia churches being sued by the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Virginia for leaving the denomination with their property last year have set a goal of raising a combined $3 million to $5 million for their pooled legal expenses.<\/p>\n
But an informal poll by The Washington Times revealed that more than half of these churches can’t afford to give funds or have made no plans to do so.<\/p>\n
United against them is their former denomination, whose New York headquarters alone claims $300 million in assets.<\/p>\n
The two largest parishes, Truro Church in Fairfax and the Falls Church in Falls Church, plan to provide at least $1 million each. So far, Truro has raised $900,000. But estimated contributions from the other nine churches are less than $200,000.<\/p>\n
An official for the Anglican District of Virginia (ADV), a confederation formed by the 11 churches, says the money will be raised somehow.<\/p>\n
“From our perspective, the Episcopal Church has limitless resources,” said Jim Oakes, ADV vice president. “We don’t, but we have enough for this situation. They are throwing everything they can at us, but we are in a very solid position legally. I think they know that. But they want to make this such an unpleasant and terrorizing process so that others won’t try the same thing.”<\/p>\n