Episcopal Diocese of Northern California files lawsuit

http://www.dncweb.org/Petaluma/Press_release.pdf

[The Episcopal Diocese of Northern California] 5 Feb 2008--The Episcopal Church Diocese of Northern California today filed a lawsuit in Sonoma County Superior Court seeking the return of historic church buildings that have been a part of the Episcopal Church for more than 150 years.

“We are not seeking to be punitive against any individuals in any way,” said the
Rt. Rev. Barry Beisner, bishop of the Diocese. “We are simply seeking the return of
property which, for a century and a half, has been held in trust for the mission of the
Episcopal Church. Good stewardship and faithfulness to our mission necessitate this
action.”

The Diocese of Northern California, with 70 missions and parishes, includes the
territory from Sacramento north to the Oregon state line, east to Nevada, and west to the
Pacific Ocean. The diocese does not include the San Francisco Bay Area.

The lawsuit was brought reluctantly after negotiations failed with a group calling
itself “St. John’s Anglican,” which has been occupying the parish buildings since
December 2006. The St. John’s Anglican group at that time filed documents with the
California Secretary of State and Sonoma County asserting its ownership.