Lay Leaders Added As Defendants In Episcopal Church Property Dispute

Both sides are raising the rhetoric in the property dispute between the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and eleven breakaway parishes that have affiliated with African Anglican bishops. (See prior posting.) Virtue Online reported on Friday that the Diocese has amended its lawsuit to add as defendants a number of individuals who were elected as vestry members in each church after the spit off. Jim Oakes, speaking for all the break-away churches, said that suing lay members was an attempt "to terrorize us". He said that under Virginia law, voluntary leaders of non-profit organizations are immune from liability unless they engaged in willful misconduct or criminal negligence. He accused attorneys for the diocese and the Episcopal Church of following "a scorched earth policy".