Diocese of TN sues to reclaim church
The Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee has filed a lawsuit to reclaim St. Andrew's in Nashville according to The Tennessean:
The Rev. James Guill, rector of St. Andrew's, says his congregation left the Episcopal Church and joined a breakaway Anglican diocese based in Quincy, Ill. They claim to have taken the deed to their property with them...The bishop disagrees. He says that St. Andrew's is still an Episcopal church. Guill and church members can vacate the building and join any group they want, said Bauerschmidt, as long as they leave the church keys by the door when they go.
"Parishes don't have the option to leave the diocese," Bauerschmidt said. "People can do whatever they want. But a parish doesn't have that option."
For the past three years, the two sides have been at a standstill, with neither willing to budge. The congregation of St. Andrew's continued to worship in the building, while the diocese waited for a change of heart on the part of Guill's congregation. That ended Friday, when the diocese filed suit against St. Andrew's to reclaim the property.
Bishop Bauerschmidt is one of the Communion Partner Bishops who support the Windsor report and the proposed Anglican Covenant.
It's time. The Rev. Guill and the congregation at St. Andrew's have had enough time to think things over.
June Butler
Posted by GrandmèreMimi![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
|
November 3, 2009 3:05 PM
Sad. Troublemaking is so consuming of positive energy...no doubt they can find another building to rent in this down economy without wasting good-will...no, they may not take the building with them. Bishop Bauerschmidt, no doubt, has bent over backwards to accommodate these folks.
Posted by Leonardo Ricardo![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
|
November 3, 2009 5:03 PM