Lawsuit Filed Over Control of Ft. Worth Episcopal Diocese

The controversy between two groups, both claiming to be the Episcopal Diocese of Ft. Worth (TX) (see prior posting), has not surprisingly now found its way into court. The Ft. Worth Star-Telegram reported this week on a lawsuit filed by the reorganized diocese that remains loyal to the Episcopal Church USA against a break-away group that has affiliated with the more conservative Anglican Province of the Southern Cone. The complaint (full text) filed in Tarrant County District Court last week seeks a declaration that plaintiffs are the proper authorities entitled to control and use Diocese property, including the name, seal and other intellectual property of the Diocese. It asks the court to order defendants to vacate the Diocese's real property and seeks an accounting. It also asks for recognition of trustees elected by plaintiff as the proper trustees of the Diocesan Corporation.