Look Out, Episcopalians

Will The Keys to Your Church Belong to The Episcopal Church in 2009?

News Analysis

By David W. Virtue

www.virtueonline.org

10/8/2009

If Katharine Jefferts Schori and her attorney David Booth Beers have their way a resolution will be put on the table at GC 2009 forcing all parishes to reconstitute their legal titles to reflect irrevocable trusts with their respective bishops as beneficiaries, and by extension, The Episcopal Church, VOL has learned.

According to a canon lawyer and bishop, the Dennis Canon does not currently (nor can it) require a reconstitution of deeds and local church titles. However, there MIGHT be a move to amend the canons to make new requirements. "It does appear that massive amendments on a number of issues is in the wind," he told VOL.

Although the Episcopal Church does not have a corporate identity beyond New York State, remaining orthodox' bishops will be hamstrung, unable to exercise their ecclesiastical prerogative regarding negotiating settlements with any parish wishing to realign.

Such an outcome will render any notion of "tolerance" within TEC the Big Lie.

In a comment during debate on resolutions, South Dakota Diocesan Chancellor Steve Sanford mentioned that he had spoken with Episcopal Church Attorney Beers about this issue. Beers replied that they would deal with this "exposure".

Beers apparently told the Chancellor that lawsuit problems would decrease in the future because TEC would deal with "the exposure issue."

TEC leaders are hoping GC2009 will give TEC the keys to your church. This makes it almost certain that there will be some new legislation for the 2009 General Convention.

Is this the springtime for Mrs. Jefferts Schori and David Booth Beers?