When the Diocese of Fort Worth disassociated from the Episcopal Church in 2008, the denomination initiated a lawsuit, one of many against departing Anglican dioceses and parishes.
On May 22, 2020, the Supreme Court of Texas handed down a unanimous ruling favorable to the withdrawing diocese. In the video interview below, Bishop Ryan Reed shares with me about what his diocese has learned in the past decade, and about the importance of seeking the Gospel while eschewing triumphalism and hardness of heart.
“One of the things that we have learned is the spiritual handicap or weight that comes upon you even when you are defending yourself in a lawsuit,” Reed shares. ” This Sunday on Pentecost I am calling the entire diocese to a day or penance and of repentance. We are all collectively going to pray the litany of penance together and repent of any way in which this lawsuit has kept us from being faithful to the Gospel, any way it may have hardened our hearts to those who differ with us or those who wanted to hurt us.”
“This Sunday is a day of penance and a day of re-dedication. On Pentecost we are all going to re-affirm our baptismal vows and return to 100 percent focus upon sharing the Gospel and the transforming love of Jesus because that is what is important,” Reed declares. “All of this property and these funds and the buildings — those are just tools to help us share the good news of Jesus Christ. We could do with or without them to be honest, but if we’re not doing that, then those things don’t matter at all.”
Comment by Weldon Oakes on May 29, 2020 at 8:39 pm
Excellent response to the questions.
I have always felt the leadership of the church have taken the high ground.
I have been attended Saint Andrews since the mid sixtes and know we have prayed for those not affiliated with us to understand why we were steadfast in the word, and unwilling to stray from Biblical teachings.
You have the opportunity to unite the congregations of the Diocese and make our mission of spreading the Good News as God has ordered ????
Comment by Chiquita Costen on May 29, 2020 at 10:52 pm
Thank you Bp. Reed and you Jeff Walton for a great interview. Very clarifying to many, I hope! God bless you Bp. Reed for continuing to “Stand firm”!
Comment by David Gingrich on May 30, 2020 at 9:48 am
Excellent result and a wonderful example to us all. Thank you.
Comment by Brother Thom on June 1, 2020 at 8:47 am
How can this Texas Supreme Court ruling, which now sets the precedent for all courts in the US, but used to leverage a separation from the UMC with property and assets by charges, districts, and conferences around the country?
Comment by Jeffrey Walton on June 1, 2020 at 11:11 am
It sets a precedent for Texas, Brother Thom — the ruling hinges on state corporate law (the Episcopal Church does not have the ability to remove elected officers of a registered Texas corporation, which the diocese is categorized as).
Comment by Reynolds on June 7, 2020 at 4:30 pm
The only other state to decide with a local congregation was in MN. The largest Presbyterian church won its property. The PCUSA took that case th US Supreme Court. They did not hear the case because it dealt with state property issues. The Texas case will allow all churches to leave with no big money spent on lawyer fees