Richmond, Va., Jan 10, 2008 / 04:57 am
The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia is taking out a $2 million line of credit to finance legal action against 11 churches that left the denomination a year ago, the Washington Times reports.
At issue in Virginia is $30 to $40 million in real estate and assets. The lawsuit joins others in at least 12 states filed against churches that have left the Episcopal Church over disputes about biblical authority and the 2003 election of New Hampshire Bishop V. Gene Robinson, who openly lives in a homosexual relationship.
The Anglican District of Virginia represents the 11 churches in the state that have left the Episcopal denomination. Vice Chairman Jim Oakes said the district spent $1 million on legal fees last year and plans to spend another $1 million this year. Its members have pledged $3 million.
"If people in the pews knew how much money was being spent on this stuff, there'd be pressure to put an end to this," Oakes said. "We just hate spending this money on lawyers.”