An ad hoc group of about 20 bishops, diocesan chancellors and lawyers reviewed recent legal disputes over property in several dioceses and also discussed “key issues” that might arise during future legal action during a Dec. 8-9 meeting in Chicago.
The group was formed after discussions held during the fall House of Bishops’ meeting in Puerto Rico. The bishops previously said its purpose is to serve as a resource for responding to property disputes in the Episcopal Church. The Chicago meeting included presentations on recent legal disputes in Kansas, Missouri and the Diocese of Los Angeles, according to the Rt. Rev. William E. Swing, Bishop of California and a co-convener of the ad hoc group with the Rt. Rev. Stacy Sauls, Bishop of Lexington.
The disputes in Kansas, Missouri and Los Angeles involved parishes attempting to leave a diocese with their property, but a possible future concern is that an entire diocese will in some way seek to alter its existing legal relationship within the Episcopal Church.
“We want to be able to offer a responsible, prudent course for the Episcopal Church if this kind of talk continues,” Bishop Swing said.
The two-day, “face-to-face” meeting was a time for attendees to get acquainted, but it will probably be the only time the group will meet before the March 17-22 meeting of the House of Bishops at the Kanuga Camp and Conference Center in Hendersonville, N.C. The group has scheduled a number of conference telephone calls and intends to develop some proposals for discussion in Hendersonville, Bishop Swing said. The bishops’ spring meeting is the last before the 75th General Convention in Columbus, Ohio.
“It’s too hard to arrange schedules and fly people all around the country at this time of the year,” he said.
Bishop Swing declined to name the entire roster of participants at the Dec. 8-9 meeting, because he said he had not received assurances from all who attended that they intended to participate further.
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