Diocese Won't Extend Pledge Not to Sue
Announcement Dims Hopes for Amicable Deal Over Property in Breakaway Parishes

By Michelle Boorstein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 10, 2007; Page B02

Hopes for a peaceful settlement between the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and nine breakaway congregations suffered a blow yesterday when the diocese announced it would not renew a mutual promise to avoid litigation over property.

Attorneys for the two sides have met once since the majority of members at the nine congregations voted last month to leave the Episcopal Church, which they think has strayed seriously from Scripture on such issues as homosexuality and the role of Jesus in salvation. Both sides had also agreed after the votes to honor a 30-day "standstill" period for discussions, during which no one would initiate a lawsuit.

The standstill would have automatically renewed for another 30 days if neither party opted not to renew. But the diocese thinks that "there isn't an interest from the other side on working on a compromise or amicable arrangement," spokesman Patrick Getlein said yesterday.

The standstill deal expires next Wednesday.

Getlein said the diocese probably "will move to retain property at all the separated churches" while still considering each church's situation case by case.

"We are saddened by this," said Jim Pierobon, a spokesman for the breakaway churches. They voted to join a new organization that falls under the Church of Nigeria, which, like the Episcopal Church, is a branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion. "We will make one final appeal for them to consider."

Although hopes to stay out of court have been shaky from the start -- with both sides stating publicly that they believe the church property to be theirs -- tensions were exacerbated when some breakaway leaders decreed that people who had voted against splitting could not hold services and meetings in the churches.

"Each church welcomes anyone who wants to worship as individuals but not as an Episcopal Church group. These are Anglican churches now," Pierobon said.

It wasn't immediately clear how many churches had established that rule. Among them was St. Stephen's Church in Heathsville, where congregants voted 99 to 32 to join the Nigerian church. Since then, congregants who opposed the split have been holding worship services at a nearby church.

It would be inappropriate for the minority group to meet in the church, said a letter from Margaret Radcliffe, senior warden of St. Stephen's, because the property dispute is ongoing. The letter was sent to minority leadership hoping to share the church.

"It's just been a chaotic mess of details, trying to find new clergy, prayer books, getting a post office box," said Sandra Kirkpatrick, who was elected senior warden of the Episcopal group shortly after Christmas. "There is a lot of pain, hurt and grief on both sides."

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