From California-
The Church of St. John the Evangelist in Stockton won a ruling last week against the Episcopal diocese when a judge dropped the names of the priest and the 12 volunteer members of the vestry — the church's ruling body — from the lawsuit.
Judge Lesley Holland of San Joaquin Superior Court removed the 13 names of the defendants in the lawsuit filed by Episcopal Bishop Jerry Lamb against the parish in September. It leaves the parish's corporation as the sole defendant.
It was good news for St. John's in the ongoing dispute between the Episcopal diocese, headquartered in Modesto and led by Lamb, against the Anglican diocese, headquartered in Fresno and led by Bishop John-David Schofield.
"The action (of naming individuals in the lawsuit) was meant to scare and intimidate," the church's priest, the Rev. Lee Nelson, said Monday. "What I'm glad about is that (the volunteers) don't have to worry about a judgment pending against them.
"It's a real relief that my name isn't on the thing anymore. You almost feel like a criminal with your name on a court document. Why can't we just have a simple dispute between parties? Now, the judge made it very clear, that's how the court sees it and how it will be resolved from here on."
Schofield led the diocese to split from the national Episcopal church in December 2007 over theological issues and the interpretation of Scripture; most Anglicans do not believe same-sex clergy should be ordained and do believe that Jesus is the only way to salvation. About 40 parishes followed Schofield; seven chose to remain Episcopal.
Read more:
http://www.modbee.com/2011/01/24/1526572/judge-narrows-church-lawsuit.html#ixzz1C3ts1HmV
No comments:
Post a Comment