Anglican congregation reviewing its options

From the Glendale News Press-

The Rev. Rob Holman reminded Anglican parishioners to practice love and forgiveness Sunday morning as they reeled from the state Fourth District Court of Appeals’ decision last week to uphold a lower court’s ruling that the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles is the legal owner of the St. Luke’s of the Mountains Church property on Foothill Boulevard.

Reacting to comments made by the Right Rev. J. Jon Bruno, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, to the News-Press regarding the court decision and the church’s future, Holman told parishioners Bruno had been misleading and dishonest.

“God’s timing is kind of interesting to begin 40 Days of Love with the court’s appeal,” Holman said. “This week taught me it’s hard to be loving.”

He asked parishioners to forgive Bruno “and release you and your statements to the Lord’s hands.”

The fate of the Anglican congregants, at least with staying at the church, remains unknown, Holman said.

“Right now, we are still reviewing our options,” he said before Sunday’s service.

The congregation needs to get feedback from parishioners before deciding its next move, said Debbie Kollgaard, St. Luke’s senior warden.

The court issued its ruling Tuesday and agreed with the lower court that the Episcopal Diocese had the right to restore the church to its authority after the now-Anglican congregation split in 2006 over theological differences.

After severing ties with the Episcopal Diocese, the congregation allied with the Anglican Province of Uganda. But congregants continued to worship at the church, arguing that the property belonged to them, not to the diocese.

The Episcopal Diocese sued St. Luke’s after it joined the Anglican Province of Uganda.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge sided with the diocese in July 2007, citing a 1979 church law establishing its ownership of all Episcopal parish property.

More here-

http://www.glendalenewspress.com/articles/2009/06/14/news/gnp-church15.txt