Whose Church Is It?

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Applying the "neutral principles of law" approach, the California Supreme Court ruled that the national Episcopal Church owned the property of a local church that voted to disaffiliate from the denomination as a result of the ordination of a gay priest. Although for more than fifty years the deeds to the church property vested title in the local church, the court concluded that the local church, from the beginning of its existence, agreed to be part of the Episcopal Church and to be bound by its governing documents. These documents make clear that church property is held in trust for the general church and may be controlled by the local church only so long as it remains a part of the general church. When a church disaffiliates from the general church, it does not have the right to take the church property with it.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Type: Download
Pages: 6
Copyright: 2011



Whose Church Is It? DCLTFR018$14.95
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