Central New York Episcopal Diocese Sues Church of the Good Shepherd in Binghamton
April 15, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Raymond J. Dague 315-422-2052
http://www.DagueLaw.com
The Episcopal Diocese of Central New York filed a lawsuit today against Church of the Good Shepherd in Binghamton, New York seeking the seizure of the church building, the parish hall, and the rectory. This is the third church which Episcopal Bishop Gladstone "Skip" Adams of Syracuse has moved against to seize since 2006, and the second church he has actually sued. The priest at Good Shepherd is Fr. Matt Kennedy who is a commentator on the internationally known Stand Firm website.
The Church of the Good Shepherd was a small struggling congregation when Bishop Adams took over the diocese as its new bishop. One of the first priests he ordained was Fr. Kennedy, who then went to Good Shepherd and raised it to be a vibrant congregation doubling its Sunday morning attendance. Since taking the church in Binghamton, Fr. Kennedy has acquired a reputation as one of the most widely read and respected commentators of church news in the Anglican Communion. Today, however, that same bishop who ordained him has sued his church, and refuses to even to acknowledge that Fr. Kennedy is a priest, referring to him as "Mr. Kennedy" in correspondence. In a cover letter to the summons, the lawyer for Bishop Adams likewise followed suit, and addressed the priest as "Matt Kennedy" and "Mr. Kennedy."
The lawsuit was filed in the Broome County clerkâs office today. The legal papers ask the court to declare that the Episcopal diocese, which is headquartered in Syracuse, owns all of the property of the Binghamton church based on a so-called Dennis Canon trust theory. In 1979 the Episcopal Church, in an effort to stop congregations from leaving the denomination, enacted a church law which claims a "trust" on any congregation which seeks to leave the denomination. This trust claim is the basis of the lawsuit against the local Binghamton congregation.
One of the other churches which surrendered its property to the bishop rather than face a lawsuit was St. Andrew's Church in nearby Vestal, New York. That church building was taken over by the Episcopal diocese shortly before Christmas of 2007 and is now vacant and for sale, while the congregation is worshiping elsewhere and thriving.
The diocese sued Good Shepherd because the Binghamton church and the bishop are on the opposite sides of a controversy over homosexual bishops and the authority of Scripture which has engulfed the Episcopal Church for the last few years. Good Shepherd adheres to the traditional teaching of the church that sex outside of marriage is prohibited by the Bible, while the Bishop and the leaders of the diocese have been outspoken supporters of the homosexual bishop of New Hampshire who divorced his wife to live with his male partner. Good Shepherd recently switched its affiliation to an American bishop who is under the Anglican episcopal jurisdiction of Kenya in Africa. The Episcopal Diocese then broke off negotiations for a peaceable resolution of the dispute and filed this lawsuit.
posted by Pat Dague @ 6:06 PM
12 comments
12 Comments:
Prayers going up - for Good Shepherd and for those who are in danger of destroying themselves by attacking it...
I Corinthians 3:17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.
I'll join in praying for Fr. Matt and Anne Kennedy and the people of Good Shepherd, Binghamton.
How timely that today we heard or read in the Daily Office Lectionary, Matthew 5:11:
"Blessed are you when men persecute you and revile you...Rejoice and be glad, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you."
This makes me very sad. I am joining TLF+ and David Handy+ in remembering your whole diocese, top to bottom, in prayer tonight.
Thanks, TLF+, David Handy+, and other faithful ministers of word and sacrament. Christ embolden you to continue in the faith in a time when priests are not always praised for doing so.
Dr.Dave
May God grant justice (mixed with mercy) for His people.
Gladstone is a cats-paw. Schori and her consigliere Beers are behind this wretched business.
Just to be accurate, although I loath the man's ordination. Gene Robinson did not divorce his wife to be with another man, he divorced his wife and subsequently took a male lover. Now please continue the justified outrage
I'm praying as well. He's a good guy.
'ol Skip sounds like a real piece of work. Prayers for Good Shepherd.
Texas Bama Fan
You know, in Virginia the male clergy are formally called "Mr." When John Howe, now the bishop of Central Florida, was rector of Truro, Fairfax he was called "Mr. Howe" by the children and the name on his door said "Mr. Howe" and his scretary answered his phone as the office of Mr. Howe (that changed when he became a canon).
I realize in higher "Ango Catholic" dioceses "Father" is used and "Fr" - but I guess I would caution that just the use of "Mr." does not necessarily mean disrespect.
It would not in Virginia.
bb
Mr is intended to indicate that Fr. Matt is no longer a priest in good standing in the dcny or pecusa. It is intended as disrespect since the usual practice up here is to call male priests Father.
The bishop refered to me as "Fr." in writing until I was recieved into the Anglican Church of Kenya. Then I became Mr.
I personally don't care. I'm far more reformed in sentiment but it is interesting.
well, it's a good thing you can't beat God.
or sue him, for that matter.
& matt kennedy & family are outstanding ppl, full of love.
SH4L0M
Post a Comment
<< Home