Million dollar bond set for St James Newport Beach

By Richard Crocker
August 8, 2013

Dear Family of God,

As you are aware, St. James Church appeared in court this afternoon for a hearing concerning the resolution of our case after Judgment against us and before we embark upon a process to appeal that decision.

One of today’s key decisions was the bond amount required which would allow us to remain on our properties during appeal. The Judge set a very large bond amount (in legal terminology, an “undertaking”) of just under $1,000,000, which was far beyond what we considered appropriate or even possible. The alternative then left for us is that we will be required to move off the properties during the appeal process.

A second key decision in the case was how much longer we will be able to remain at 3209 Via Lido and our attorneys argued for, and obtained after closed-door negotiation, a stay of 45 days. This means we are able to remain on property, hold worship services, other events and do day-to-day church business until we must turn over the properties on or before September 21.

Brothers and Sisters, as difficult at this change may be, we want to transition well. Be assured, plans are already in place for our new worship location. I look forward to sharing more with you this Sunday, August 11, at a Parish Update in Trane Hall at 8:35 and 10:35 am. There, we will offer further details about our transition, the provision of office and midweek meeting space, the plan for responding with pastoral care for parishioners with anger, grief, or other concerns, and the variety of ways we will remain connected in this important time.

In closing let me say that this is not the last day for St. James, but it is a new day! Though it will take time to adjust to this change, our parish family, our mission, and our Savior will remain the same. "Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, and today and forever." Hebrew 13:8

Let us ask God to deal graciously with the hurt of the moment, and then open our eyes to the new opportunities that await us!

May God bless you,
Pastor Richard
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Judge again weighs issues in SC Episcopal schism
For the second time in recent months, U.S. District Judge C. Weston Houck is weighing whether issues arising from the acrimonious Episcopal schism in eastern South Carolina belong in federal court.

As two bishops sat with their attorneys on either side of his Charleston courtroom, Houck heard about an hour of arguments Thursday on one bishop's request for an injunction against the other.

Charles vonRosenberg, the bishop of parishes remaining with the national Episcopal Church, wants the court to block Mark Lawrence, the bishop of churches that left last year, from using the name and the symbols of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina.

The conservative Diocese of South Carolina last year separated from the more liberal national Episcopal Church over a variety of theological issues, including the authority of Scripture and the ordination of gays. The breakaway churches sued in state court to protect the use of the diocesan name and half a billion dollars' worth of property...