Rio Grande, Parish Bury Two Lawsuits

From The Living Church-

A pastoral letter in Eastertide and a subsequent lawsuit have defused a longstanding dispute between the Diocese of the Rio Grande and the El Paso, Texas, parish of St. Francis on the Hill. The parish filed suit against the diocese in 2008 after its members voted to join what is now the Anglican Church in North America.

The Rt. Rev. Michael Louis Vono, Bishop of the Rio Grande, wrote a pastoral letter to the parish April 12 and distributed the letter throughout the diocese.

“The Body of Christ is not determined by litigation,” the bishop’s letter said. “No one will be questioned, judged or unwelcome as the community comes together to begin a new chapter with the Bishop. Your spiritual home has deep roots in family memories, life passages and happy occasions. St. Francis’ has been your spiritual home. It is my prayer you will consider remaining with all your brothers and sisters in the wider community at St. Francis on the Hill. I pastorally assure you that, even with a contrary mind, I will lovingly care for and accept each one of you as members of Christ’s body. A Bishop is called and chosen to be a shepherd for all people, and all includes those who may not be likeminded yet who desire to remain faithful followers of Jesus Christ.”

A lawsuit the diocese filed April 26 confronted a related issue, challenging the legality of the Los Robles Corp., an entity the parish formed after separating from the diocese.

The Rev. Dr. Felix Orji, rector of the parish since 2005, was among four defendants named in the diocese’s lawsuit.

More here-

http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2011/7/8/rio-grande-parish-bury-two-lawsuits