Virginia Episcopalians: The underdogs are winning

October 17 2008
By Julia Duin

Who would have guessed it? A year ago, the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and the Episcopal Church (the New York-based denomination) was set to roll over a group of 11 breakaway conservative churches that had deserted the diocese the year before. The denomination has hundreds of millions of dollars in its coffers. The diocese had access to some very good lawyers and the contributions of close to 200 churches.

Arrayed against them were the 11 churches that were frantically trying to raise funds for this huge legal battle. It is the largest property dispute in Episcopal Church history and this was the David-and-Goliath scenario.

That was then.

This past week, I was at the Fairfax County courthouse for the third — or fourth — round of hearings in this multi-trial case. (There have been a lot more behind-the-scenes briefings I have not covered). We've now moved to 4J, a much larger courtroom than we had in previous hearings. The courthouse itself has finished its renovations since the hearings began and its size has at least doubled.

Lawyers for the diocese are seated to the right. Lawyers for the breakaways, now under an Anglican District of Virginia (ADV), which itself is under a Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA), are to the left. Blue, yellow and orange swirley carpet is on the floor.
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