A Civil War-era law that lets Virginia churches keep their property when leaving a denomination where a "division" has occurred is constitutional, a county judge ruled Friday, June 27, siding with 11 former Episcopal parishes.

Fairfax County Judge Randy I. Bellows' ruling on the 1867 law stops short of awarding the property to the parishes, but it hands them a major legal win.

"It's a resounding victory and very broad," said Steffen Johnson, lead counsel for several of the congregations. "There are just a few loose ends to tie up."

The ruling could encourage the dozens of Episcopal parishes in similar court battles across the U.S., and shake the confidence of mainline Protestant denominations that fear losing churches and people to breakaway groups.

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Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • CANA • Episcopal Church (TEC) • TEC Conflicts • TEC Conflicts: Virginia • * Culture-Watch • Law & Legal Issues

1. GrandpaDino wrote: I am posting a compilation of press releases and news articles over at: http://UncleDino.bloghorn.com June 28, 10:37 am | [comment link]

2. Violent Papist wrote: I always have wondered why they say Civil War era, but not Reconstruction-era or martial law-era. June 28, 10:44 am | [comment link]

3. w.w. wrote: #2: Because 90 percent+ of people in America would have no idea of the time period or events to which the latter two eras refer. w.w. June 28, 8:06 pm | [comment link]

4. Adam 12 wrote: As I understand it, the initial problem came about when the U.S. split into “two countries” during the Civil War and various churches faced the possible prospect of having two bodies claiming governance—north and south. June 29, 5:50 am | [comment link]

5. evan miller wrote: Well, the law entered the books in 1867 if memory serves.  Reconstruction era for sure.  I too keep wondering why the media keeps refering to it as a “civil war” era law.  Of course you’re quite right w.w., thanks to the abysmal state of History teaching in our schools. June 30, 12:38 pm | [comment link]

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