On Friday, January 21, 2011, the Hon. John P. Chupp of the 141st District Court, Tarrant County, Texas, granted the Local Episcopal Parties’ and The Episcopal Church’s Motions for Summary Judgments. He denied the Southern Cone parties Motion for a Partial Summary Judgment The orders can be seen here.
The Court orders provide in part that the defendants, including Bishop Jack L. Iker, “surrender all Diocesan property, as well as control of the Diocesan Corporation, to the Diocesan plaintiffs and to provide an accounting of all Diocesan assets within 60 days of this order.” Additionally, “the Court hereby orders the Defendants not to hold themselves out as leaders of the Diocese.”
It's only right, and it's about time.
In November 2008, former Bishop Jack L. Iker and other diocesan leaders left The Episcopal Church and aligned themselves with another church, the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone. Since then they have been using the name and seal of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth and occupying Episcopal Church property.
For over two years, faithful Episcopalians in the diocese have not only been denied the use of their property, but they've had their name appropriated by those who left the Episcopal Church. Here's the website of the real Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth.
Check out the phony Diocese of Fort Worth. Confusing, right? The giveaway on the home page is the prominence of the link to Exodus International "a ministry of freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ".
It's been a long night, but a new day has dawned.
UPDATE: From the phony Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth comes the news that they will appeal the decision by Judge Chupp, which is not surprising. Will they ask for a stay on the order to vacate the property, and, if so, what are the chances that a stay will be granted? Thanks to Bex in the comments for the update.
