Church leader fires back at Episcopal diocese

St. Edmund’s spokesman says parishioners followed laws in split
By Caley Clinton Freeman Staff

ELM GROVE – Citing the Episcopal Church’s “decision to move to the extreme left of Christianity” as a primary concern, St. Edmund’s Anglican Church member and spokesman Dr. Samuel Scheibler said Tuesday the Elm Grove congregation followed state laws and canons of the church in proceeding to break off from the Episcopal church in December.

The Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee sued several members of the church Monday, arguing they must return all property and control of St. Edmund’s parish after leaving to join a more conservative faith.

But Scheibler said the church had its title company, Chicago Title, conduct a title search, and the company found that the church and its property belong to St. Edmund’s.

“It’s not about the building, it’s about our faith,” Scheibler said. “The sweat equity (we’ve put into the church) does not belong to the diocese. We’ve worked hard to improve the property over the years.”

The church property at 14625 Watertown Plank Road includes a cemetery where several parishioners’ loved ones are buried, he said. In addition, an Elm Grove preschool rents the church building, and if St. Edmund’s is forced out, it will be “devastating” to the preschool, Scheibler said.

Two thirds of the church’s 84 parishioners turned out for the December vote on whether or not St. Edmund’s should split from the Episcopal Church and it was unanimous among those present to leave, he said. The church held a series of discussions on the matter prior to the decision, all of which were in strict accordance with state laws and canons of the Episcopal Church, Scheibler said. the rest