The 2nd Court of Appeals has ruled against the Diocese of Fort Worth, finding in favor of the Episcopal Church, which claims all the property and assets of the Diocese along with its Corporation.
This appears to go against a previous decision by the Texas Supreme Court, which was in favor of the Diocese and led to the Tarrant County Court ruling against the Episcopal Church.
The Diocese of Fort Worth split from the Episcopal Church in 2009 over the denomination's endorsement of gay marriage, women priests and associated heterodoxy. The Episcopal Church then proceeded to sue the Diocese of Fort Worth for its buildings and money.
Bishop Iker anticipates that the final decision in this ongoing litigation will lie with the state's Supreme Court. The full text of his statement follows below and if the Episcopal Church finally wins, what will it do with a diocese full of empty churches. Sell them for mosques or translesbian theater workshops?
You, the reader, be the judge,
LSP
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The Second Court of Appeals has issued its long-awaited ruling in our litigation, and the Court has found in favor of TEC’s arguments that TEC decides who belongs to their Diocese and that their Diocese controls the Corporation Board of Trustees, as well as all property and other assets.
Our attorneys are reviewing the 178-page opinion, and I will have a conference call with them tomorrow to discuss how to proceed. As we have said in the past, we have anticipated all along that the Texas Supreme Court will make the final decision on this matter.
As the legal battle continues, let us remain focused on the Risen Jesus and our mission to proclaim the Good News to all people.
The Rt. Rev. Jack Leo Iker
Bishop of Fort Worth
April 5, 2018
