Episcopal Dispute Over Church Assets

A lawsuit filed in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas yesterday contends that local Episcopal assets worth about $20 million belong to the minority of congregations continuing to align themselves with the U.S. Episcopal Church. Spokesperson Richard Creehan says a 2005 court order stipulates the assets must remain in the control of a diocese that's part of the U.S. Episcopal Church.

The majority, which currently controls the assets, voted in October to re-affiliate with an Anglican church in South America because of the U.S. appointment of a gay bishop and approval of same-sex blessings. It calls itself the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh (Anglican). Director of Communications, the Rev. Peter Frank, says it is not fair for a minority to claim everything and going to court is scandalous for the church. He says his group has consistently offered to have fair and mediated negotiations to allocate the assets between the two groups. Frank contends the October vote was not a vote by individual parishes, but by the whole diocese--a distinction disputed by the minority that may be significant legally.

Recent court rulings in California and Virginia have gone both ways.