Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh to Leave Longtime Office

From The Living Church-

The Pittsburgh diocese led by the Rt. Rev. Robert W. Duncan will soon leave its longtime office space in the Henry W. Oliver Building, which offers dramatic views of Trinity Cathedral in downtown Pittsburgh.

The group announced on Tuesday that it will appeal a church-property ruling by Judge Joseph M. James of the Court of Common Pleas in Allegheny County, and it will now be known as the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh. Since leaving the Episcopal Church in October 2008, the group had used the name of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh (Anglican).

Shawn Malarkey of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh said the name change is not related to legal strategy.

“Rather than bringing greater clarity to the legal case, it’s actually bringing greater clarity to our internal identity, and moving forward,” he told The Living Church.

He added that the diocese was resolving the awkwardness posed for reporters, who had to write about two entities claiming the name of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh.

The Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh is not renewing its lease in the Oliver Building, and will move on Dec. 1 to new office space in the Allegheny Center, Mr. Malarkey said.

Rich Creehan of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh reserved comment on whether it would move into the Oliver Building office space being vacated by Bishop Duncan’s diocese.

“We are waiting for a report from the Special Master regarding what is covered in this agreement,” he said.

Statements released by the two dioceses indicated that they are both prepared for a long-term legal battle.

“Our decision to appeal is for the purpose of protecting the mission of our fifty-one local congregations,” said a statement from the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh. “Left uncontested, the award of all diocesan assets to the minority party, a group that comprises only a third of the parishes that were a part of our diocese when we withdrew from the Episcopal Church, would establish a precedent that we believe the minority would use to take steps to seize all the assets of all our local parishes.”

The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh countered: Judge James found that the 2005 Stipulation and Order — that both sides agreed to before those former leaders left the Episcopal Church — clearly and unambiguously requires that the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh of the Episcopal Church of the United States be the rightful trustee of those assets.

“We stand ready to defend our position and the court’s ruling on appeal. At the same time, we will continue to cooperate in the orderly transition of diocesan property, and when the time is right, to engage in a dialogue on other issues between us that still need to be resolved.”

http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2009/10/30/anglican-diocese-of-pittsburgh-to-leave-longtime-office