Methodists defend Episcopal Church in land battle

Apr 26, 2008
by William C. Flook
The Examiner

Virginia- The United Methodist Church and a handful of other religious bodies have rallied to the side of Virginia's Episcopal Diocese as it seeks to reclaim millions of dollars worth of property from breakaway congregations in court.

The U.S.-based Methodists, as well as two African branches and the Worldwide Church of God, joined the Episcopal Church this week in challenging the constitutionality of a Civil War-era Virginia law on which the case likely hinges.

"This case raises the question of the appropriateness of the government's intrusion into the freedom of any church body to organize and govern itself according to its own faith and doctrine," top Methodist officials said. the rest