Following the revelation that South Cone group in Fort Worth had financially encumbered the property in dispute, the loyalist diocese has filed new pleadings and a supplemental motion for partial summary judgment:
On March 31, 2011 the Local Episcopal Parties filed amended pleadings in the 141st District Court of Tarrant County, Texas. The pleadings (1) add a new defendant, Jude Funding, Inc., and (2) seek supplemental declarations and injunctive relief consistent with the Court’s February 8, 2011 partial summary judgment. …
According to the Secretary of State’s records, Jude Funding, Inc. (“Jude Funding”) is a Texas for-profit corporation formed on October 13, 2010 by Chad Bates as its sole organizer and director. Bates is already a defendant in the case, claiming to be a trustee in the Diocesan Corporation. According to the October 13, 2010 Deed of Trust filed in Tarrant County, Jude Funding claims a security interest in real property held by the Diocesan Corporation, a two-acre tract in Tarrant County (the Diocesan Center on Alameda Street) and a six-acre tract in Hood County (part of Camp Crucis). The purported liens relate to an alleged note, dated October 13, 2010, from the Diocesan Corporation to Jude Funding in the amount of Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($3,500,00.00 Dollars). …On March 31, 2011 the attorneys for the Southern Cone parties argued to Judge John P. Chupp that while the case is on appeal the Southern Cone parties should be permitted to continue to encumber church property sought by the Episcopal Parties in order for the Southern Cone parties to pay legal fees to oppose these claims.Judge Chupp also considered what sort of restrictions he will impose on the use of the disputed church property and funds while the case is on appeal.
Read it all, and find there links to underlying documents.
There are developments in Pittsburgh to report. For example,
The Rev. John Bailey of St. Andrew’s Anglican Church in New Kensington said his parish’s negotiating team will include himself and a lay member of the congregation, likely “a seasoned attorney.”
Bailey said that the Anglican diocese would act in an advisory capacity for the talks. At the suggestion of the diocese, Bailey said, the parish has completed an inventory of its property and has looked for a new building in which to worship.
…
Bailey said he was not sure how strong a hand he will have in negotiations with Episcopal officials.
He said he would not negotiate a settlement in which the parish would be forced to sever its relationship with the Anglican diocese. That was part of the deal the Episcopal diocese struck with St. Philip’s Church in Moon, which is barred from Anglican membership for five years or until their financial settlement is paid in full, Bailey said.
The Anglican diocese is not a part of the Anglican Communion.
Read more: Episcopal diocese, parishes consider church property issues – Pittsburgh Tribune-Review