Episcopal Church Joins Pittsburgh Lawsuit

February 13, 2009

The Episcopal Church has asked to join a lawsuit initially filed in 2003 against the leadership of the Diocese of Pittsburgh by the rector and senior warden of Calvary Church, Pittsburgh. Papers were filed in the Allegheny Court of Common Pleas earlier today on behalf of the Rt. Rev. John C. Buchanan, retired Bishop of West Missouri and parliamentarian of the House of Bishops, according to Lionel Deimel, an Anglican blogger based in Pittsburgh.

“The Episcopal Church has an interest in ensuring that any determination by this court regarding the ability of a diocese to disaffiliate from The Episcopal Church or the identity of the persons now comprising the leadership of the diocese...does not contravene The Episcopal Church’s constitution, canons or polity,” the petition states in part, “including the requirement that all church property may only be used for the mission of the church subject to the constitution and canons of the church.” the rest