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January 11, 2008

Cost of Episcopal church property fight in Virginia is at $2 million and counting

by Daniel Burke
Religion News Service

WASHINGTON — The court battle over church assets between the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and 11 breakaway congregations has already cost both sides more than $2 million, according to representatives.
   
The secessionist Anglican District of Virginia has spent about $1 million on legal fees thus far and anticipates spending as much as $3 million to $5 million on the litigation, said Vice Chairman Jim Oakes.
   
The money is being raised through donations from the 11 churches, Oakes said, though only five have contributed so far.
   
Patrick N. Getlein, a spokesman for the Diocese of Virginia, said the diocese has spent “over a million” on legal fees to date. The diocese recently reported that it has taken out a $2 million line of credit for the litigation.
   
Financial figures from the national Episcopal Church, which is also a party in the litigation, were not immediately available. Getlein said the national church is not helping the diocese pay its legal fees.
   
Citing theological disagreements with the national church’s increasing acceptance of gays and lesbians, the 11 congregations split from the diocese and the Episcopal Church last January. They have since joined the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, which is headed by Nigerian Archbishop Peter Akinola.
   
Oakes said the assets in dispute are worth approximately $30 million. Getlein said he could not provide an estimate of their worth.
   
The Episcopal Church maintains that church assets are held in trust for the national church, and is attempting to block efforts by the congregations to assert ownership of the property.
   
The first phase of the trial, now being heard by a judge in Fairfax County, VA, is scheduled to wrap up later this month.
       
Arguments thus far have centered on whether a Civil War-era Virginia law allows a congregation to leave a religious body with its assets intact if that body is undergoing division.