Episcopal Diocese Of Los Angeles

In a victory for the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, a state appeals panel has upheld the diocese's claim to the buildings and other property of three conservative parishes that had severed their ties with the diocese. The unanimous decision by a panel of the appeals court in Santa Ana reversed lower court rulings in the case, which involves St. James Church in Newport Beach, All Saints Church in Long Beach and St. David's Church in North Hollywood.

The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles is the rightful owner of the buildings and other property of a conservative La Crescenta congregation that broke away from the diocese last year, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled Tuesday. The decision by Judge John Shepard Wiley Jr. against St. Luke's of the Mountains came more than a week after an appeals court panel in Orange County ruled in favor of the six-county Los Angeles Diocese in a similar property dispute with three other parishes.

The California Supreme Court has voted unanimously to review a recent appeals court ruling that the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles is the owner of the buildings, prayer books and other property of several conservative congregations that broke away from the diocese in 2004. The court announced Tuesday that it would take up the closely watched case, which involves St. James Church in Newport Beach, All Saints in Long Beach and St. David's in North Hollywood.

A judge Thursday reiterated his previous rulings that the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles has no legal claim on church buildings and other property owned by three conservative breakaway parishes. "The court has nothing further to add" in support of its earlier rulings, Orange County Superior Court Judge David C. Velasquez wrote in response to new amendments made to complaints he had rejected in August and December. The diocese tried to seize the property of the churches -- St.

At St. James Anglican Church in Newport Beach, the Rev. Richard Crocker told parishioners Sunday to await the "good news of a God who's with us," an upbeat message despite a recent legal ruling that could strip the congregation of its property because of its break with the Episcopal Church. At St. John's Cathedral near downtown Los Angeles, whose congregation has remained within the Episcopal fold, the Very Rev. Canon Mark R.

The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles has scored its second legal victory this year in a battle with conservative churches that have sought to take their property with them as they break away to affiliate with overseas Anglican leaders. A California appellate court this week affirmed a lower court ruling that said the property at St. Luke's Anglican Church in La Crescenta is held in trust for the diocese and the national Episcopal Church. St.

Over the years, parishioners have given the Episcopal Church much more than their Sunday morning tithes and offerings. Their generosity has transformed the church into a landowner -- a position the church is now reexamining as it seeks ways to help Southern Californians in need of housing. "People have been very wonderful to the church in giving it land and helping them build churches, and the church needs to give back to the community," said the Right Rev. J.

Katrina Ely Carter, 81, a sculptress, social activist and canon of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, died March 25 in Sierra Madre following a short illness related to heart disease. The widow of the Rev. E. Lawrence Carter, who served as rector of St. John's Church in Los Angeles, she was named a canon in October by the Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles.

Five days of festivities and visits in six counties are planned for June 16 to 20 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Rt. Rev. Frederick H. Borsch as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. Consecrated bishop in June 1988, the 62-year-old Borsch will follow an itinerary designed to highlight his commitment to social causes. He will meet with youths, tour local parishes and inspect a new health center in Fontana named after his family.

The Rt. Rev. Frederick H. Borsch, bishop of the six-county Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, has set the wheels in motion for his retirement by calling for the election of a successor. Meeting with the Diocesan Council this week, Borsch, 63, said he wanted to see a bishop coadjutor elected a year from now. The bishop coadjutor would automatically succeed Borsch when he retires. Borsch was consecrated bishop in June 1988.