On Friday, August 30, 2019, the Texas Supreme Court agreed to hear oral argument on both (1) the breakaway parties’ petition for review the Fort Worth Court of Appeals April 2018 opinion in favor of the loyal Episcopalians of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth as well as (2) our conditional cross-petition for review. The conditional cross-petition asserted additional reasons why we should prevail in this litigation.
The oral argument will be held at 9 am December 5, 2019. The time allotted to argue is 20 minutes for each side.
“Our attorneys are well prepared to respond to the court’s request for oral argument before a decision is made in this case,” said Bishop Scott Mayer. “As the legal team does its work, let us continue to hold all involved in prayer in the name of our loving, liberating, life-giving God. There is a whole world out there hungry for the message that God loves them just as they are.”
On April 5, 2018, the Fort Worth Court of Appeals issued a 178-page opinion in favor of the loyal Episcopalians of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth. In a decision authored by the Chief Justice, the Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s 2015 judgment for the breakaway parties and held that the loyal Episcopalians are entitled to control both the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth and its Corporation.
The breakaway parties appealed that ruling to the Texas Supreme Court, and the loyal Episcopal parties’ conditionally cross-appealed, seeking additional relief.