Posts from April 2012

Posts from April 2012

Change in Scope of April 28, 2011 Hearing

In a telephonic hearing on April 27, 2011, Judge John P. Chupp told the parties that, on April 28 at 2 p.m., he will hear the parties’ arguments about whether to allow the Episcopal Parties to conduct discovery on the factual issues raised in Defendants’ Motion to Set Supersedeas Bond and the Local Episcopal Parties’ Motion to Continue Hearing on Supersedeas and for Additional Protection. He indicated that the parties should not bring witnesses to put on testimony about the…

Tennessee Court Rules in Favor of Episcopal Diocese in Property Dispute

On April 25, 2012 the Court of Appeals of Tennessee in Nashville issued an opinion in favor of The Episcopal Church’s Diocese of Tennessee in a property dispute with a breakaway group from St. Andrew’s Parish, Nashville. A copy of the opinion is HERE. St. Andrew’s Parish, Nashville asserted its intention to leave The Diocese of Tennessee. The Diocese filed a declaratory judgment action to determine whether it or the local congregation owned and controlled the real and personal property where…

Statement from the Chancellor regarding amicus brief

Seven Episcopal Bishops File Amicus Brief Against Diocese, Claim “Hierarchy Stops With Me” On April 23, 2012, ten Episcopal clergy filed an amicus (“friend of the court”) brief with the Texas Supreme Court. The filing amici are Bishops Maurice M. Benitez (retired, Diocese of Texas); John W. Howe (retired, Diocese of Central Florida); Paul E. Lambert (suffragan, Diocese of Dallas); William H. Love (diocesan, Diocese of Albany); D. Bruce MacPherson (diocesan, Diocese of W. Louisiana and formerly suffragan, Diocese of Dallas); Daniel H. Martins…

Statement from the President of the Standing Committee regarding amicus brief

Seven Episcopal Bishops File Amicus Brief Against Diocese, Claim “Hierarchy Stops With Me” Dear Friends in Christ, Many of you have heard that seven bishops (two retired and five active) have filed an amicus brief in support of Bishop Iker’s action currently before the Texas Supreme Court. This saddens us all for multiple reasons. Please know that the leadership in the Diocese is exploring an appropriate response to such a shameful action by these members of the House of Bishops. Also, please…

St Elisabeth’s appeal for help brought astounding results

In mid-March, St. Elisabeth’s Episcopal Church sent out an appeal for help to clean up the interior and exterior of their 4.5 acre facility on Saturday, March 31. When that day came, approximately 60 people from eight different churches lent a hand to accomplish some much-needed work that the mission has not been able to accomplish by itself. This number also includes five priests and three deacons of the diocese. People worked both inside and out to help the church…

Liturgy for Rogation Days

Cindy Coe, Christian formation consultant and author of the Abundant Life Garden Project curriculum from Episcopal Relief and Development, has written a liturgy to be used on Rogation Days for the blessing of church and community gardens. Read more about the neighborliness of celebrating Rogation Days, which occur during the season of Easter. The beginning of the litany: As all the earth is a garden, Lord, we ask that you bless this small piece of the earth. As Your Light shines…

Update on prayer visitor project

The Prayer Ministry Project has developed into a ministry that has two distinctive parts. The first part, people pray and plan to visit a specific congregation for four Sundays beginning with Sunday One. The second part, people offer intercessions for specific congregations but cannot plan to visit on Sunday One. Congregations still in need of a Prayer Visitor These congregations need people to consider becoming an intentional Prayer Visitor or Intercessor: Arlington, St. Mark Arlington, St. Peter & St. Paul…

Integrity Fort Worth seeks help in making a video

Integrity welcomes all to help make a video for the “It Gets Better Project.” Integrity will be  making a video to help speak out against bullying GLBT teens on April 22, 2012 at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church. In addition to filming the video, Mtr. Amy Haynie will celebrate Eucharist and afterward there will be a potluck supper. Recording of stories begins at 4:00 p.m., the Eucharist is at 5:00 p.m. with the potluck following. You can film your own story, offer…

Tickets still left for Canterbury Cathedral Choir concert

A concert by the world-renowned Canterbury Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys, from Canterbury, England is being presented on Thursday, April 12, at 7 p.m. in the UCC Sanctuary. Co-sponsored locally by University Christian Church and Trinity Episcopal Church, the Canterbury Cathedral Choir, under the direction of Cathedral Organist and Master of the Choristers, Dr. David Flood, is launching a tour of the U.S. in April and will be performing nine concerts in Texas, California, Oregon and Washington. The choir…