LA: Diocese sues for church ownership
04/29/2006

LA CRESCENTA - The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and its leader, Bishop Jon Bruno, are suing the clergy and volunteer leaders of St. Luke's of the Mountains Anglican Church in an attempt to gain control of the church's property, court records show.

The lawsuit, filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, cites the denomination's rules, which claim the church's property is held in trust of the Episcopal Church USA and the Diocese.

St. Luke's voted in February to leave the Episcopal denomination to join the Anglican Church of the Province of Uganda. Church leaders said the ECUSA has drifted away from orthodox Christian teachings on issues of the authority of the Bible and the uniqueness of Jesus Christ as the only way to salvation.

St. Luke's leaders said they are the legal owners of their property. Six previous lawsuits involving similar circumstances have been decided in favor of the individual churches, St. Luke's officials said. the rest