From Iowa-
A split between local Espicopalian churches earlier this year has resulted in a legal dispute over church assets that will be heard today in a Rock Island County Circuit Courtroom.
Last week, Christ Church of Moline filed the suit against The Episcopal Church, its presiding bishop and a chancellor to the bishop. According to the suit, the defendants sent a letter to First Midwest Bank last month in which they claimed to have "legally enforceable interest" in the funds held for Christ Church.
Christ Church then demanded The Episcopal Church withdraw its demand, which the suit claims it did briefly before re-submitting it to the bank a day later.
The suit argues that a faction of Christ Church purports to have removed the parish from the Diocese of Quincy and claims to own the funds.
On June 24, the bank told Christ Church that it would be unable to distribute future funds, which restricted members from reaching the property at 1717 8th Ave. and paying bills, the suit claims. Christ Church is seeking an injunction against The Episcopal Church.
The dispute extends back to last fall when three theologically conservative Episcopal dioceses in the United States, including the one based in Quincy, Ill. - which includes the Illinois Quad-City region - switched allegiances to the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone.
In January, members of Christ Church failed to reach the margin needed to prompt the church to re-align with Episcopalians. The 80-59 vote to re-align did not reach the super-majority threshold of 66 percent that was required for change.
A new Episcopal church in Moline began its services in early February, in contrast to others in the Illinois Quad-Cities that continued to follow the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone, based in Argentina.
The differences divide along moderate or liberal lines, as well as traditional or conservative ones. Arguments center on the role of women in the church, but the rift was made wider in 2003 when an openly gay minister from New Hampshire was elevated to the post of bishop.
http://www.qctimes.com/news/local/article_715d1962-6c37-11de-bc04-001cc4c002e0.html
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