About this Case and St. James Church
Case History
St. James disaffiliates from The Episcopal church in 2004 and is sued by the local diocese and TEC.
St. James wins dismissal of the suit in O.C. Superior Court.
Appellate Court overturns O.C.S.C., reinstating the suit.
California Supreme Court affirms Appellate Court decision & says neutral principles of law to be used (not hierarchy).
St. James petitions U.S. Supreme Court citing First Amendment rights issues; the court declines to take the case.
Case returns to O.C.S.C.; the diocese and TEC move for judgment; the court declines.
Appellate Court overturns O.C.S.C., orders judgment for TEC & the Diocese even though no trial has been held.
Calif. Supreme Court reverses Appellate Court, reaffirms St. James’s right to have a trial. Case remanded back to O.C.S.C. in 2011.
History of St. James Church in Newport Beach
1941: St. James is established as a mission.
1945: Ground is broken for construction of the original church building.
1946: St. James Mission becomes St. James Church and the church is dedicated.
1951: The church’s original education building is constructed.
1957: The church is enlarged to house a growing congregation.
1965: The church is remodeled. A focus is placed on parishioner education, enrichment and development.
1974: A Faith Alive weekend seminar brings a fresh outpouring of God’s Spirit that is received by the congregation.
1981: School of Discipleship — a parish-based academy — is launched and is dedicated to nurturing lay people in discipleship to Jesus Christ.
1992: A capital campaign is launched to build a new church, education and administration buildings.
2001: The new church is blessed.
2004: St. James departs the Episcopal Church and aligns with a different branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Steadfast in Faith is created as a way to focus the raising of funds for our court case. God has blessed Steadfast in Faith. Each time a request is made for financial support the congregation has responded most generously.
2004 to date: The people of St. James continue holding firm to their belief in the authority of Holy Scripture and in the Lordship of Jesus Christ.