The Diocese of Virginia filed formal notice on Feb. 3 of its intent to appeal a Fairfax County Circuit Court decision issued last month which ruled that 11 congregations that disaffiliated from The Episcopal Church were the rightful owners of the local church property under Virginia law, according to The Living Church.
“The division statute is uniquely hostile to religious freedoms,” said Henry Burt, secretary for the Diocese of Virginia. “We have always been firmly committed to returning exiled Episcopal congregations to their rightful church homes.”
Assuming the Virginia Supreme Court accepts the case, a final decision would probably not be issued for at least a year.
A history of the case, hearings, and court decisions to date can be found at the Diocese of Virginia web site.
UPDATE: CNN reports that the VA Attorney General announced Tuesday he will resign his post February 10 to campaign full time for Governor. He has been involved in the case against the Diocese of Virginia.