Chrish Church property transfer settled

From Georgia-

The breakaway congregation at Christ Church on Johnson Square will return possession of the church to the Episcopal diocese and its local congregation at noon Dec. 12, a diocesean spokesman said Thursday.

The agreement, reached in accordance with a Nov. 21 state Supreme Court ruling, will transfer the property to the Diocese of Georgia and Christ Church Episcopal, the Rev. Frank Logue said.

“Christ Church Episcopal will hold its first service in its historic home on Johnson Square on Sunday, Dec. 18, with two services,” Logue said.

Christ Church Episcopal left the church property four years ago in a flap with the breakaway group that remained after a dispute with the national church over the affirmation of an openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson, in New Hampshire.

Chatham County Superior Court Judge Michael Karpf and a three-judge panel of the State Court of Appeals ruled with the Episcopal Church group in litigation.

On Nov. 21, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled with the two lower courts that the local church and its property belonged to the Episcopal Church and not the local congregation.

“Despite the lawsuit, the departing congregation has been very gracious about this, and we want to be as well,” Logue said.

More here-

http://savannahnow.com/news/2011-12-02/chrish-church-property-transfer-settled#.TtjBvWDMcVk

Also here-

http://washingtonexaminer.com/news/2011/12/breakaway-group-return-church-after-court-loss/1966611