Judge orders church to turn over property to Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles

From The LA Times-

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge Wednesday ordered leaders of a former Episcopal church in La Crescenta to turn over church property by Oct. 12 to the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, marking the latest wrinkle in a long-running legal dispute.

St. Luke's Anglican Church and the diocese have been feuding since 2006, when a majority of the parish's congregants voted to pull out of the diocese and the 2.1-million-member Episcopal Church because of differences over biblical authority and interpretation, including the national church's decision to consecrate an openly gay bishop.

After the La Crescenta church left, the diocese sued to retain its property.

St. Luke's argued that the parish remained the rightful owner because it held the deed.

In 2007, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge John Shepard Wiley Jr. ruled in the diocese's favor.

In June, a state appellate court affirmed the judgment, saying the property was held in trust for the diocese and the national church.

More here-

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-church1-2009oct01,0,1455513.story