American Anglican Council Comments on Recent Developments in the Diocese of Virginia

AAC Press Release
January 19, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Jenny Abel
770-414-1515 (o)
202-412-8721 (m)

The American Anglican Council (AAC) joins congregations in the newly formed Anglican District of Virginia in lamenting the lack of willingness on the part of the Diocese of Virginia to negotiate 11 churches’ properties, which the diocese declared “abandoned” in a news release yesterday. The decision on the properties, approved unanimously by the Executive Board of the Diocese of Virginia, also “authorizes the Bishop to take such steps as may be necessary to recover or secure such real and personal property.”

“I am deeply disappointed, though not surprised, at the Diocese of Virginia’s sudden resort to litigation after pledging to avoid court battles in a protocol agreed upon last fall,” said the Rev. Canon David C. Anderson, AAC President and CEO. “The churches involved have indicated a clear willingness to negotiate a fair, amicable agreement regarding their properties, but the diocese has prematurely ended these discussions under the guise of concern for the diocese and national church, despite the fact that all options for an agreement have not been exhausted.”

The churches recently voted overwhelmingly to leave the Diocese of Virginia because of the national church’s continued departure from historic Anglicanism and biblical Christianity. Despite growing hostility and increased threats from diocesan and national leadership, the churches have maintained a spirit of Christian charity during the departure process.

“The AAC stands in strong support of these faithful churches in Virginia and urges Bishop Lee and the other diocesan leaders to halt the current course of destruction,” Canon Anderson said. He went on to note that peaceful terms regarding property have been reached between dioceses and departing parishes in other areas of the country, including recent agreements between Christ Church, Plano, and the Diocese of Dallas, and between two Puget Sound churches and the Diocese of Olympia.

“It is ironic that a diocese and national church which so pride themselves on ‘reconciliation’ should ignore the chance for peaceful negotiation and instead choose to spend precious resources on expensive legal battles,” Canon Anderson continued. “Negotiation is possible, but only with the willing cooperation from both sides. We pray that a reasonable, amicable agreement will emerge in Virginia despite recent indications otherwise.”

This article comes from the American Anglican Council
http://www.americananglican.org/

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