Break-Away Anglican Diocese Not Entitled To Episcopal Diocese Property

The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh that retains affiliation with the Episcopal Church USA has won its claim to property of the Diocese following the 2008 vote by the Diocesan Convention to withdraw from the Episcopal Church and affiliate with the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone. In Calvary Episcopal Church v. Duncan, (PA Commn. Ct., Feb. 2, 2011), a Pennsylvania appellate court held that a settlement signed by the two sides before the withdrawal should be read to award the diocese property to the organization that retains affiliation with the Episcopal Church USA. The court also rejected other procedural challenges to the trial court's award of the property to the Episcopal Diocese. Yesterday's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports on the decision and on additional background. Ownership of property of individual parishes remains to be negotiated by the parties. (See prior related posting.)