Content about Virginia

Letter from Dr. John Yates to The Falls Church of 18 April 2013.

“As a result of the process of Conciliation under Canon IV.10 of The Episcopal Church, the…Complainants and Respondents agree to this Accord on terms which promote healing, repentance, forgiveness, restitution, justice, amendment of life and reconciliation,” begins the Accord, which was signed by all parties in March 2013.

The Virginia Supreme Court has let stand a lower court ruling that held the Dennis Canon has no legal effect in property disputes in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

In an order released last week, a three-judge writ panel of the Supreme Court refused to hear the Diocese of Virginia’s cross-appeal in the case of The Episcopal Church v. The Falls Church and left standing Fairfax County District Court Judge Randy Bellows ruling the Episcopal Church’s national property canon is not binding on the civil courts of Virginia.

The Supreme Court of Virginia has directed The Falls Church to present oral argument to a writ panel on 16 October 2012 in support of its petition to throw out a lower court decision turning over its property to the Diocese of Virginia. 

In a 25 September 2012 statement, Henry Burt, secretary of the Diocese of Virginia said The Falls Church attorneys will be given ten minutes of oral argument to “persuade the Court to hear their appeal on the merits. The Supreme Court will decide whether it will hear the case in a few weeks after the hearing. If the appeal is accepted for argument, it is likely to be heard in the first half of next year.”

The House of Bishops has authorized the use and study of provisional rites for the blessing of same-sex unions.  By a vote of 111 in favor, 41 no, and 3 abstaining, Resolution A049 was passed by the bishops during the afternoon session of the 5th legislative day of the 77th General Convention on 9 July 2012.  The resolution now goes to the House of Deputies for final action.

The text of the resolution at this stage of the legislative process states the bishops “authorize for provisional use I Will Bless You and You Will Be a Blessing for study and use in congregations and dioceses of The Episcopal Church.”

The Attorney General of Virginia has filed a motion in the property dispute between the Episcopal Diocese and seven breakaway congregations that have affiliated with the Anglican Church of North America (ACNA) break, asking the court to reconsider its January ruling that all property donated to the churches prior to 31 January 2007 be turned over to the diocese.

On 22 Feb 2012, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli filed a brief in support of a motion filed by the congregations, asking Judge Randy Bellows to reconsider his decision ordering all property be turned over to the diocese as donor intent governed the disposition of the charitable donations under Virginia law.

(January 10, 2012) – Seven Anglican congregations in Virginia that are parties to the church property case brought by The Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia are reviewing today’s ruling by the Fairfax County Circuit Court that the property should be turned over to the Episcopal Diocese.