DOCSLIB.ORG

UCC Polity Page 1 of 4 A-47

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
UCC Polity Page 1 of 4 A-47 UCC Polity Page 1 of 4 A-47 One of Webster's definitions of polity action of the Holy Spirit in the life bishop, elder, deacon and pastor are government. is “a specific form of church govern- of the individual believer, and the instruments through which the The United Church of Christ is on ment.” It is the cloth which binds the activity of the Spirit in the life of the tradition is honored and nurtured its administrative side, Episcopal; on churches together in a denomination church? and through which the Holy Spirit its legislative side, Presbyterian; and and varies in style and design with • How does God speak to us through speaks, moves and leads. Authority on its judicial side, congregational. each denomination. Polity is the one another, and how are we resides in the office. The statement “on its manner in which a denomination prepared to listen? Presbyterian polity is based on administrative side, Episcopal” governs and administers its life and A second theological issue related convictions about the value of recognizes that leaders have been relationships among the individuals, to polity decisions has to do with associations of churches, and church chosen and authorized to act on behalf churches and groups within it. human freedom and sinfulness. Polity councils. This is a representative of the church in certain matters. An questions related to this understanding form of church government in example of this is often seen in the include: which delegates or representatives office of the conference minister. History and • Recognizing the presence of human from local churches gather to Conference ministers are the chief sin, is the individual Christian more discern the mind of Christ. executives or administrative officers Background or less competent than a group of Proponents of this form of polity of the 39 conferences of the United What churches believe about the Christians to discern the mind of believe that in such a gathering the Church of Christ. In this role they nature of the church, its relation to Christ? group, led by the Holy Spirit, can provide leadership to the churches in God and its purpose in the world • Should the freedom of the take action and make decisions. their mission and ministry, and they largely influences how they organize individual be preserved in all Gathered in such meetings, the guide policy formation, program and govern themselves. matters of faith and practice? representatives are seen as full development and program There are two or three basic theo- • Churches are described as having expressions of the church. As such, implementation in their conferences. logical issues that are at the heart of congregational polity, Episcopal their actions and decisions do not They also exercise pastoral oversight polity decisions. One of these is the polity or Presbyterian polity. While need to be affirmed or approved by for the ordained ministers and understanding of the freedom of God there are complex meanings of these the local churches for them to be churches in their conferences. As is and the free movement of the Holy terms, there are also simple valid expressions of the church. true of pastors of local churches, they Spirit. Polity questions related to this distinctions. Congregational polity are looked to for their wisdom and understanding include: affirms the freedom of the guidance in matters of faith and order. • What form of church government, individual in all matters of faith and Polity in the United “On its legislative side, structure and organization is most practice. It affirms the freedom of Church of Christ Presbyterian” recognizes that some responsive to the leading of the Holy the local church to govern its own decisions are made by representatives While it is possible for some denomi- Spirit? affairs apart from the control of in called meetings of associations, of nations to identify their polity as one • What makes church government, regional church councils or conferences and of the General Synod. of the three types just described, the structure and organization un- associations of churches. Supporters These decisions determine how the United Church of Christ is not able to responsive, or a hindrance to the of congregational polity can recount different parts of the United Church of do this. One of the creative movement of the Holy Spirit? periods in church history when Christ will be together, how they will dimensions of the United Church of • How can church government, God's freedom was threatened by an together engage in mission and Christ is its blending of aspects of structure and organization maintain a ecclesiastical order supported by ministry and how they will order their each of the types of polities. healthy tension between its valued governmental power. They seek to lives and relationships. The United Douglas Horton, writing in Reform tradition and its ability to be flexible prevent this from occurring again. Church of Christ values these settings and Renewal (page 38), describes and take risks in new directions? Episcopal polity is based on as gatherings where the mind of Christ United Church of Christ polity in • Is there a way to understand and convictions about the office of can be discerned. In most cases, parallel terms to the branches of civil make the distinction between the leaders in the church. The offices of delegates to these meetings do not go UCC Polity Page 2 of 4 A-47 instructed by their local church as to local church.” ways the life of your local church is geographic boundaries, coordinate how to vote on particular measures. The covenant partnership preserves influenced, enriched and related by programs, aid and counsel churches Rather, they are free to follow the these concepts: other settings of the church. and clergy, help in placement of leading of the Holy Spirit. • Christ as Head of the church. Local churches join in covenant clergy and provide services such as “On its judicial side, • The priesthood of all believers. partnership with one another and with workshops and camping programs. congregational” recognizes that the • The autonomy of the local church. the association, conference and They are self-governing and each has local church does not relinquish its • Covenant among members creating national settings of the denomination a chief executive officer, the own authority to decide about its own a caring, sharing, accountable in order to be faithful and obedient to conference minister. life. The Constitution of the United fellowship. the gospel of Jesus Christ. The The General Synod includes more Church of Christ states that “The • Ordained ministers and churches purpose of partnership is to be than 700 representatives who meet autonomy of the local church is bound in covenanted relationships. effective and faithful in the mission every two years. It sets policies and inherent and modifiable only by its You probably identify yourself with given to the church. This is always the adopts a budget for work carried on by own action”... The General Synod, the local church where you have your question to ask of polity the national settings of the church. It conferences, associations, the General membership. Your church may be arrangements: Do they contribute to elects national officers and an Minister and President of the United large or small, rich or poor, rural or increased obedience, faithfulness and Executive Council, as well as most of Church of Christ, or its conference urban, liberal or conservative. effectiveness in being the church in the Boards of other national ministers cannot decide for the local Whatever its size or shape, your the world on behalf of the gospel and ministries. church. church makes its own decisions about mission of Jesus Christ? Programs on behalf of the church One of the best descriptions of worship, creed, membership, mission, In the United Church of Christ, are carried on by your church, the United Church of Christ polity is to finances and leadership. But your churches covenant as partners in: association of churches and clergy call it a dynamic “partnership church does not lead its life in a • Associations--regional gatherings around you, your conference and the covenant.” Partnership covenant vacuum. Members participate in the of churches. General Synod, through national values the commitment the parts of the life of your conference or association, • Conferences--39 larger regional bodies. These bodies include the United Church of Christ have made to and study the actions of your gatherings of churches, many Covenanted, Affiliated, and one another to live together, to work conference, your association, and the including all United Church of Associated Ministries, Councils, and together in behalf of the mission and General Synod. Your church uses Christ churches in a state. others. ministry of Jesus Christ in the world, resources prepared by the national • General Synod--a national When these groupings to support one another and to call one bodies of the United Church of Christ. gathering of representatives from communicate with each other—which another to accountability. It You may be led by a pastor prepared conferences. is frequent—the message never is recognizes that while no one part of in a United Church of Christ seminary Associations provide the avenue by “you must, because we say so.” the church can decide for any other and ordained by a United Church of which local churches are associated Rather, the message is, “because we part, we are bound continually to Christ association. Your church has with the United Church of Christ. (In are all part of one church seeking to listen to one another, to take one called a pastor who has been granted some places the conference serves as serve Christ, we need to take seriously another with great seriousness and to ordained ministerial standing in a the association).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • WEEK 1: a Very, Very, Brief History of the Pre-Reformation Christian Church B Y D R
    EVER-REFORMING: A REFORMATION 500 CROSS-GENERATIONAL STUDY WEEK 1: A Very, Very, Brief History of the Pre-Reformation Christian Church B Y D R. MA RK ELLINGSEN ( PROFES SOR OF CHU RCH HISTORY, INTERNATIONAL THEOLOGICAL CENTER ) TOPIC SUMMARY The church grew like wildfire in the 1500 years after Jesus’ death. It quickly changed from being a small Jew- ish sect into the religion of Europe. Although Christianity had originally been a movement of Jews, immediate- ly after gaining a Gentile majority of the membership sometime in the 2nd century, it was still a religion with its heaviest concentration in Israel, the Near East, and North Africa. It was not until the adoption of Christianity by the Roman Emperor Constantine in the 4th century that Christianity began to be associated with Europe and Western culture. (We must never forget how Jewish, Asian, and African our faith is.) Most of the first Christians, much like Jesus, came from lower-class backgrounds. However, their commitment, willingness to suffer for their faith, and care for the poor attracted more and more powerful people within the Roman Empire. This accounted for much of the church’s phenomenal growth. This in turn led the church to gain educated leaders who in the 4th and 5th centuries developed some of our great doctrines: the Trinity, the two natures of Jesus, original sin, and the prioritizing of grace over works. (Liturgical styles of worship, teach- ing about the sacraments, and the determination of what books would and would not be in the Bible had been addressed in previous centuries.) The increasing numbers of Christians among the educated elite meant that Christian theology developed in conversation with the cutting-edge intellectual developments of the day.
    [Show full text]
  • 2017 5 for 5 Churches
    United Church of Christ 5 for 5 churches Abundant Peace UCC, Las Vegas, NV Advent United Church of Christ, Columbus, OH All Peoples UCC, Bend, OR Allegheny United Church of Christ, Alleghenyville, PA Amherst Community Church, Snyder, NY Amistad Chapel, Cleveland, OH Apples UCC, Thurmont, MD Arcade United Church of Christ Congregational, Arcade, NY Arlington Congregational UCC, Jacksonville, FL Augustana UCC, Holland, IN Bainbridge Community UCC, Chagrin Falls, OH Baiting Hollow Congregational UCC, Calverton, NY Barneveld Congregational UCC, Barneveld, WI Bausman Memorial UCC, Wyomissing, PA Bay View UCC, Norfolk, VA Beaver United Church of Christ, Beavercreek, OH Ben Salem UCC, Lehighton, PA Berkeley Community Cong UCC, Denver, CO Bethany Congregational UCC, San Antonio, TX Bethany UCC, Baxter, IA Bethany UCC, Chicago, IL Bethany UCC, Freeport, IL Bethany UCC, Louisville, KY Bethany UCC, Claremont, NC Bethany UCC, Cuyahoga Falls, OH Bethany UCC, Bethlehem, PA Bethany UCC, Philadelphia, PA Bethany UCC, Randolph, VT Bethany United Church of Christ, Lebanon, OH Bethel Congregational UCC, Ontario, CA Bethel Congregational UCC, Beaverton, OR Bethel Congregational UCC, White Salmon, WA Bethel Memorial UCC, Creve Coeur, IL Bethel UCC, Nebraska City, NE Bethel United Church of Christ, Cahokia, IL Bethel United Church of Christ, Elmhurst, IL Bethel United Church of Christ, Evansville, IN Bethel United Church of Christ, Kansas City, MO Bethel United Church of Christ, Beloit, OH Bethel United Church of Christ, Elkhart Lake, WI Bethel-Bethany UCC,
    [Show full text]
  • United Church of Christ
    United Church of Christ Religious Beliefs and Healthcare Decisions by Arlene K. Nehring he United Church of Christ (UCC) was born out T of, and continues to shape and be shaped by, the ecumenical movement—the attempt of Christians to unite around matters of agreement rather than to divide over matters of disagreement. In 1957, two denominations merged, the Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church, Contents resulting in the United Church of Christ. The Individual and 2 Although the UCC is usually viewed as an heir to the Patient-Caregiver Relationship the Reformed Protestant tradition, the denomination also includes historic Lutheran roots among the tradi- Family, Sexuality, and Procreation 3 tions that inform its faith and practice. The UCC is Genetics 5 sometimes described as a “non-creedal” church Mental Health 6 because no specific confession or set of confessional statements is considered normative for the church’s Death and Dying 8 faith. But UCC beliefs can be gleaned not only from Special Concerns 9 the numerous confessions that the church has actual- ly employed, but also from the traditions reflected in its worship and other practices, such as confirmation. From this perspective, the UCC might better be described as a “multi-creedal, multi-confessional” church. It embraces a rich Protestant heritage in which the primary authority of the Scriptures, justifi- cation by grace through faith, and the continuing guidance of the Holy Spirit are all central tenets. Although the UCC also features enormous theological diversity, two other key principles are embraced by virtually all its members.
    [Show full text]
  • The Episcopal Church, Now Please
    WLR44-3_HYDEN_3_7_08 3/18/2008 5:03:02 PM WELCOME TO THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, NOW PLEASE LEAVE: AN ANALYSIS OF THE SUPREME COURT’S APPROVED METHODS OF SETTLING CHURCH PROPERTY DISPUTES IN THE CONTEXT OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND HOW COURTS ERRONEOUSLY IGNORE THE ROLE OF THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION R. GREGORY HYDEN∗ I. INTRODUCTION It is settled constitutional law that internal church disputes in- volving faith, doctrine, governance, and polity are outside of the pur- view of civil courts.1 The Supreme Court stated that “[t]he law knows no heresy, and is committed to the support of no dogma, the estab- lishment of no sect.”2 When a dispute erupts into schism, however, serious questions arise as to who owns church property and “[t]he state has an obvious and legitimate interest in the peaceful resolution of property disputes, and in providing a civil forum where the owner- ship of church property can be determined conclusively.”3 Thus, the Supreme Court held that, while church property disputes come under the scrutiny of the First and Fourteenth Amendments, civil courts can resolve such conflicts so long as the underlying controversy does not 4 involve determining religious doctrines or ecclesiastical issues. ∗ Sitting for the State of Florida Bar, February 2008; J.D., Florida State University, 2007; B.A., University of South Florida, 2004; Episcopal Student Board Member of the Chapel Cen- ter at the University of South Florida, 2001–2004. The author wishes to thank Professor Gey at the Florida State University for his advice and guidance in the writing of this Article.
    [Show full text]
  • Reformed Tradition
    THE ReformedEXPLORING THE FOUNDATIONS Tradition: OF FAITH Before You Begin This will be a brief overview of the stream of Christianity known as the Reformed tradition. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, the Reformed Church in America, the United Church of Christ, and the Christian Reformed Church are among those considered to be churches in the Reformed tradition. Readers who are not Presbyterian may find this topic to be “too Presbyterian.” We encourage you to find out more about your own faith tradition. Background Information The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is part of the Reformed tradition, which, like most Christian traditions, is ancient. It began at the time of Abraham and Sarah and was Jewish for about two thousand years before moving into the formation of the Christian church. As Christianity grew and evolved, two distinct expressions of Christianity emerged, and the Eastern Orthodox expression officially split with the Roman Catholic expression in the 11th century. Those of the Reformed tradition diverged from the Roman Catholic branch at the time of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. Martin Luther of Germany precipitated the Protestant Reformation in 1517. Soon Huldrych Zwingli was leading the Reformation in Switzerland; there were important theological differences between Zwingli and Luther. As the Reformation progressed, the term “Reformed” became attached to the Swiss Reformation because of its insistence on References Refer to “Small Groups 101” in The Creating WomanSpace section for tips on leading a small group. Refer to the “Faith in Action” sections of Remembering Sacredness for tips on incorporating spiritual practices into your group or individual work with this topic.
    [Show full text]
  • Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ
    THE INTERIM MINISTRY HANDBOOK of the New Hampshire Conference, United Church of Christ Contents I. An Introduction to Interim Ministry II. A Shared Ministry: Responsibilities and Expectations A. Policies Concerning Interim Ministry B. Characteristics of the Interim Minister C. Compensation Guidelines D. Contractual Concerns E. Guidelines Concerning Responsibilities and Expectations F. Additional Suggestions III. Interim Ministry Profile III. A Covenant for Interim Pastorates V. Background Disclosure This Handbook is intended primarily as a resource for Interim Ministers. Approved by the Interim Ministry Group and the Conference Minister of the New Hampshire Conference of the United Church of Christ, November, 1998 Updated 9/04 Updated 1/11 2 An Introduction to Interim Ministry The interim period is the time that occurs between the end of one settled pastorate and the beginning of the next. An interim pastor serves a church only during this period, and will not be a candidate for the permanent position. This limitation is the basis for the unique work of the interim pastorate, and it is the responsibility of the interim pastor to maintain the integrity of the position and the work. I. The Interim Minister A. Within the United Church of Christ, interim ministry is understood to be the specialized, time-limited pastoral ministry provided to a local congregation or other ecclesiastical setting during the search process for a person to be called to provide settled ministerial leadership in that setting. The Interim Minister, like other authorized ministers in the United Church of Christ is subject to the oversight of the Association’s Committee on Church and Ministry.
    [Show full text]
  • Resolution on Calling on United Church of Christ Congregations to Declare Themselves Open and Affirming MACUCC Annual Meeting 1984
    Resolution on Calling on United Church of Christ Congregations to Declare Themselves Open and Affirming MACUCC Annual Meeting 1984 Whereas the Apostle Paul has said that, as Christians, we are many members but we are one body in Christ, and recognizing that lesbian and gay people are already members of the church of Christ through baptism and that these same persons have gifts of ministry and faith to offer the United Church of Christ; and Whereas the United Church of Christ has historically affirmed a rich diversity in its theological and biblical perspectives and, as a free church, has encouraged freedom of individual response to the Gospel of Christ; and Whereas the Tenth through the Fourteenth General Synods have adopted a number of resolutions affirming the civil rights of gay and bisexual people, encouraging the inclusion of gay and bisexual people on association church and ministry committees within the United Church of Christ, and addressing the concerns of same gender oriented persons and their families within the United Church of Christ; and Whereas the Executive Council of the United Church of Christ adopted in 1980 equal employment opportunity policy which does not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of sexual orientation; and Whereas the United Church Coalition for Lesbian/Gay Concerns has urged the implementation of a process whereby United Church of Christ congregations adopt a statement of openness and affirmation of lesbian, gay and bisexual persons in the life and mission of the local congregations:
    [Show full text]
  • Efm Vocabulary
    EfM EDUCATION for MINISTRY ST. FRANCIS-IN-THE-VALLEY EPISCOPAL CHURCH VOCABULARY (Main sources: EFM Years 1-4; Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church; An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church; The American Heritage Dictionary) Aaronic blessing – “The Lord bless you and keep you . “ Abba – Aramaic for “Father”. A more intimate form of the word “Father”, used by Jesus in addressing God in the Lord’s Prayer. (27B) To call God Abba is the sign of trust and love, according to Paul. abbot – The superior of a monastery. accolade – The ceremonial bestowal of knighthood, made akin to a sacrament by the church in the 13th century. aeskesis –An Eastern training of the Christian spirit which creates the state of openness to God and which leaves a rapturous experience of God. aesthetic – ( As used by Kierkegaard in its root meaning) pertaining to feeling, responding to life on the immediate sensual level, seeing pleasure and avoiding pain. (aesthetics) – The study of beauty, ugliness, the sublime. affective domain – That part of the human being that pertains to affection or emotion. agape – The love of God or Christ; also, Christian love. aggiornamento – A term (in Italian meaning “renewal”) and closely associated with Pope John XXIII and Vatican II, it denotes a fresh presentation of the faith, together with a recognition of the wide natural rights of human being and support of freedom of worship and the welfare state. akedia – (Pronounced ah-kay-DEE-ah) Apathy, boredom, listlessness, the inability to train the soul because one no longer cares, usually called “accidie” (AX-i-dee) in English.
    [Show full text]
  • Sacred Listening: Hearing God, Ourselves, and Our Neighbors
    Epiphany & Lent 2019 Sacred Listening: Hearing God, Ourselves, and Our Neighbors A publication of First Church of Christ, Congregational United Church of Christ 190 Court Street, Middletown, CT TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR YOUR MEDITATION​ …………………………………………………………………… ​2 MINISTER’S NOTE ​……………………………………….…………………………………….....​ 4 CHURCH LIFE UPDATES ​……………….………………………………………………….. ​9 EVENTS ​……………………………………………………………………………………………….…..... ​19 ANNOUNCEMENTS ​……………………………………………………………………………… ​21 CONGREGANT CONTRIBUTIONS ​……………………...………………………….. ​25 FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, CONGREGATIONAL 190 Court Street, Middletown, CT [email protected] 860-346-6657 / www.firstchurchmiddletown.org Ministers, ​The Whole Congregation Minister, ​Reverend Julia Burkey Music Minister, ​Shari Lucas Minister of Youth & Families,​ Pastor Mahogany Thomas Moderator, ​Karl Scheibe Vice Moderator, ​Suzanna Barrett Treasurer, ​Andrea Roberts Clerk, ​Kari Sullivan Member at Large, ​Ann Marie Foote Deacon Co-Chairs,​ Anthony Moran & Julie Hurlburt Deacon Rep. for Exec. Committee,​ Gabriela De Golia Trustees Rep. for Exec. Committee,​ Trevor Davis Office Manager, ​Kortney Balsamo Upcoming Executive Committee Meeting Dates: Thursdays 12/20, 1/17, and 2/21 at 6:30 PM in the Memorial Room Wish to share an announcement? Please send it to Kortney Balsamo, our Office Manager, at [email protected]​ by Wednesday each week so she can include it in the weekly bulletin. 1 For your meditation “Instructions for living a life: pay attention, be astonished, tell about it.” - Mary Oliver “Breathing in, I see myself as a flower. Breathing out, I feel fresh. Breathing in, I see myself as a mountain. Breathing out, I feel solid. Breathing in, I see myself as still water. Breathing out, I reflect things as they are. Breathing in, I see myself as space. Breathing out, I feel free.” - Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh “Be at peace among yourselves.
    [Show full text]
  • A Primer on the Government of the Episcopal Church and Its Underlying Theology
    A Primer on the government of The Episcopal Church and its underlying theology offered by the Ecclesiology Committee of the House of Bishops Fall 2013 The following is an introduction to how and why The Episcopal Church came to be, beginning in the United States of America, and how it seeks to continue in “the faith once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). Rooted in the original expansion of the Christian faith, the Church developed a distinctive character in England, and further adapted that way of being Church for a new context in America after the Revolution. The Episcopal Church has long since grown beyond the borders of the United States, with dioceses in Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador (Central and Litoral), Haiti, Honduras, Micronesia, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, Venezuela and Curacao, and the Virgin Islands, along with a Convocation of churches in six countries in Europe. In all these places, Episcopalians have adapted for their local contexts the special heritage and mission passed down through the centuries in this particular part of the Body of Christ. “Ecclesiology,” the study of the Church in the light of the self-revelation of God in Jesus Christ, is the Church’s thinking and speaking about itself. It involves reflection upon several sources: New Testament images of the Church (of which there are several dozen); the history of the Church in general and that of particular branches within it; various creeds and confessional formulations; the structure of authority; the witness of saints; and the thoughts of theologians. Our understanding of the Church’s identity and purpose invariably intersects with and influences to a large extent how we speak about God, Christ, the Spirit, and ourselves in God’s work of redemption.
    [Show full text]
  • Leah Joy P. Capilitan
    LOCAL CHURCH AUTONOMY IN THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST IN THE PHILIPPINES (UCCP): ITS MISSIONAL IMPLICATIONS LEAH JOY P. CAPILITAN MASTER OF THEOLOGY SILLIMAN UNIVERSITY DUMAGUETE CITY APRIL 2019 ii DEDICATION To Mama and Papa in whose nurturing love I experienced the grace and love of God. I thank my God every time I remember you (Phil. 1:3). iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Hallelujah! Words are not enough to express my joy and thanksgiving for this opportunity God has given me to pursue and finish this study. To God, I am truly grateful and to the people whom God has sent me to help make the completion of this undertaking possible. I would like to acknowledge the following people and institutions who in one way or another have helped me and journeyed with me since the beginning of this study until I finished. To Rev. Dr. Lope B. Robin, my thesis adviser, who patiently guided me in the preparation and completion of this thesis. To the members of the panel, chaired by Dr. Margaret Helen U. Alvarez, Dean of the Graduate School; Rev. Dr. Jeaneth H. Faller, Dean of the Divinity School; Rev. Dr. Josephat Rweyemamu, UEM Mission Co-Worker; Bishop Erme R. Camba, UCCP Bishop Emeritus; and Dr. Victor Aguilan, Coordinator of the Divinity School Graduate Program for generously sharing their brilliance and expertise for the improvement of this thesis through their suggestions and contributions. I am also grateful to the Conference Council of Negros District Conference (NDC) for allowing me to conduct the study in some of its local churches.
    [Show full text]
  • In the Supreme Court of the United States ______THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH in the DIOCESE of SOUTH CAROLINA, ET AL., PETITIONERS, V
    No. 17-1136 __________ In the Supreme Court of the United States __________ THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE DIOCESE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, ET AL., PETITIONERS, v. THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, ET AL., RESPONDENTS. __________ ON PETITION FOR A WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE SUPREME COURT OF SOUTH CAROLINA ____________________ BRIEF OF THE FALLS CHURCH ANGLICAN AND THE AMERICAN ANGLICAN COUNCIL AS AMICI CURIAE IN SUPPORT OF PETITIONERS SCOTT J. WARD* *Counsel of Record Gammon & Grange, P.C. 8280 Greenboro Dr., Suite 140 McLean, VA 22102 (703) 761-5012 [email protected] Counsel for Amici Curiae i QUESTION PRESENTED Whether the “neutral principles of law” approach to resolving church property disputes requires courts to recognize a trust on church property even if the alleged trust does not comply with the State’s ordinary trust and property law. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page QUESTION PRESENTED .................................. i TABLE OF CONTENTS..................................... ii TABLE OF AUTHORITIES .............................. iii INTRODUCTION AND INTERESTS OF AMICI CURIAE.................................................. 1 REASONS FOR GRANTING THE PETITION. 5 I. This Court Should Grant the Petition and Clarify the Application of Jones v. Wolf’s Neutral-Principles Standard to Reduce Church Property Litigation and the Burdens It Imposes on Congregations, Dioceses, and Denominations. ............................................ 5 II. This Court Should Grant The Petition and Clarify That Jones v. Wolf Does Not Require Courts to Enforce Canons That TEC Itself Has Repeatedly Admitted Are Not Legally Cognizable and Have No Civil Law Effect Without Statutory Support. ....................... 12 III. This Court Should Grant Review to Avoid the Serious Establishment Clause Concerns Raised by the Ruling Below. ...................... 20 CONCLUSION ................................................
    [Show full text]