Anglican District of Virginia Responds to Judge Bellows’ Decision to Dismiss Volunteers from Lawsuit

FAIRFAX, Va. (August 13, 2007) – The Anglican District of Virginia (ADV) churches responded to Fairfax County Court Judge Randy Bellows’ decision to dismiss the volunteers named in the lawsuits filed by The Episcopal Church and Diocese of Virginia. ADV is an association of Anglican congregations in Virginia and a part of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA). All 11 churches named in the lawsuit are members of ADV.

“We are appreciative that after all these months, our volunteer vestry members and our pastoral leadership are no longer named defendants in lawsuit filed by The Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Virginia,” said Tom Wilson, senior warden of The Falls Church, and chairman of the Anglican District of Virginia.

“We thank Judge Bellows for his decision to remove these unpaid volunteers from the lawsuit. The Episcopal Church and Diocese of Virginia had nothing to gain from adding these volunteers. While we remain confident in our legal position, our churches still remain willing to resolve amicably their differences with The Episcopal Church and the Diocese,” said Jim Oakes, vice-chairman of ADV. the rest