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Important Dates

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Case History

  • St James Realigns with the World Wide Anglican Communion
    1 Aug 2004 12:00pm - 31 Aug 2004 12:00pm

    In August 2004 St. James Church ended its affiliation with the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and the Episcopal Church over theological differences involving the authority of Holy Scripture and the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles brought lawsuits against St. James Church, All Saints Church, Long Beach, CA, and St. David’s Church, No. Hollywood, CA, and their volunteer board members in September of 2004. Subsequently, the national Episcopal Church intervened into the lawsuits against the three local church corporations and their volunteer board members.

  • Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles Sues Departing Parishes
    1 Sep 2004 12:00pm - 30 Sep 2004 12:00pm

    The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles brought lawsuits against St. James Church, All Saints Church, Long Beach, CA, and St. David’s Church, No. Hollywood, CA, and their volunteer board members in September of 2004. Subsequently, the national Episcopal Church intervened into the lawsuits against the three local church corporations and their volunteer board members.

  • January 2009: California Supreme Court Issues Decision
    1 Jan 2009 - 15 Jan 2009

    In January 2009 the California Supreme Court ruled in Episcopal Church Cases that church property disputes in California must be resolved by neutral or non-religious principles of law, not by civil courts merely deferring to the decrees of church “hierarchies” or larger church bodies.

    As a result, every church property dispute in California now will be resolved based on non-religious factors that are unique to the dispute. While adopting this non-religious method of resolving property disputes between churches, the Court seemed to defer to the Episcopal Church’s alleged “trust canon,” which purports to create a trust interest in church property owned by local congregations. The Court made its ruling despite the fact that St. James purchased and maintained its property with its own funds and has held clear record title to its property for over fifty years. This ruling disregards decades of trust law in California that only allows the owner of property to create a trust in favor of someone else, and has wide and unfavorable impact for churches throughout California that seek to change their religious affiliation.

  • Late January 2009: St James Requests California Supreme Court Modify Decision
    15 Jan 2009 - 31 Jan 2009

    In late January 2009 St. James formally asked the California Supreme Court to modify its January decision.

  • February 2009: California Supreme Court Grants St James' Request
    1 Feb 2009 - 14 Feb 2009

    In February 2009 the California Supreme Court granted the St. James request, and modified its decision to confirm both that the suit against St. James is not over and that no decision on the merits of the case has yet been made. Instead, the Court clarified that its decision was only based on the limited record before it. These important clarifications contradict the premature claims of victory made by the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles

  • February 2009: Case Returns to Orange County Trial Court
    15 Feb 2009 - 28 Feb 2009

    In late February 2009, the case returned to the trial court in Orange County where St. James can assert factual and legal arguments that were not addressed on appeal through discovery, depositions, motions, and trial. Using the legal standard set forth by the California Supreme Court, the Orange County Superior Court will eventually decide the merits of this dispute.

  • May 2009: St James To File Petition With U.S. Supreme Court
    1 May 2009 - 31 May 2009

    In May 2009 St. James will plan to file a petition for a writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court. While such a petition for review is never assured – the court accepts fewer than one percent of petitions – there are compelling arguments for the Justices to grant this petition. The key issues are:

    1. Many dozens of church property cases are percolating in the court system lacking constitutional direction.
    2. States are in conflict regarding the handling of church property cases.
    3. These issues have garnered widespread national attention and involve important questions of federal constitutional law.
     

  • October 2009: Decision Whether to Hear the Case Expected
    1 Oct 2009 - 31 Oct 2009

    A response from the Court regarding their decision to hear St. James’s petition can be expected by October 2009.

  • Spring 2010: Likely Time Of Court Hearing
    20 Mar 2010 - 20 Jun 2010

    If the court grants the petition a hearing would likely be scheduled for spring 2010.

  • Late Spring - Early Summer 2010: Decision Expected
    1 May 2010 - 31 Jul 2010

    The Justices could render their decision as early as late spring 2010 or early summer 2010.

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Contact the SteadfastInFaith.org team directly using our online contact form or by reaching us at:

St James Anglican Church
Attn: SteadfastInFaith.org
3209 Via Lido
Newport Beach CA 92663
www.stjamesnb.org
Tel: +1 (949) 675-0210