Friday, September 2, 2011

Judge tells Rosemont congregation it must vacate property


From ENS-

A judge has told a breakaway congregation in the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania that its deposed priest and certain members of the vestry must relinquish parish property.
The ruling involves Church of the Good Shepherd in Rosemont, outside of Philadelphia, along with deposed priest David Moyer and some members of the congregation.

The diocese went to court in 2009 saying that Moyer and the members of the parish were violating the Episcopal Church's Constitution and Canons by continuing to hold on to the property. The diocese contended that church's canons require a parish holds its property in trust for the diocese and the Episcopal Church.

"The diocese has sorely missed the Church of the Good Shepherd and all of the robust gifts its members bring to our common ministry," Pennsylvania Bishop Charles Bennison Jr. said in a statement. "We look forward to our future together."

The statement said that members of the deanery which includes Good Shepherd have met with Bennison and the Very Rev. Ledlie Laughlin, Standing Committee president, and offered to help the congregation until a full-time interim rector can be hired. Bennison has appointed Assisting Bishop Rodney Michel to help guide the parish over the next weeks and months, according to the statement.

Moyer told the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper Sept. 1 that he was disappointed with Ott's decision, but would abide by it.

More here-

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/80263_129651_ENG_HTM.htm

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