Bishop Duncan Welcomes Lawsuit Settlement

Lawsuit settlement affirms authority of elected diocesan leadership Bishop Robert Duncan welcomed news of Judge Joseph M. James’ approval of the proposed settlement agreement in the litigation between Calvary Episcopal Church, East Liberty; St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Wilkinsburg; certain individuals and 18 members of the diocesan leadership.

“Both sides have been working toward a settlement for almost a year now. It is a blessing to see that work bear fruit,” said Bishop Duncan.

Filed in November 2003, the original lawsuit maintained that the members of the diocesan leadership it identified could not be trusted to fulfill their responsibilities under the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church and charged that the leadership had breached their fiduciary obligations to the Episcopal Church and to the Diocese, and disposed or attempted to dispose of property interests of the Episcopal Church. It asked for a court injunction requiring the defendants to take all necessary action to preserve and protect the interests of ECUSA, the Diocese and individual plaintiffs.

The settlement affirms the competence and responsibility of the bishops and other elected diocesan leaders to continue fulfilling their fiduciary and property duties under the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh with a series of stipulations. Both parties have agreed to follow the stipulations.

Ther rest: The Connecticut Six Website