At first glance, it appears that the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth is filing against its own bishop.

On second glance, it appears that a newly-formed entity, with the same name, is filing the complaint.

From the complaint it looks like the second entity registered the service marks (at the Federal level) on July 20, 2010 and August 3, 2010.

Would this be seen as intentionally hijacking? Would that be a Federal offense?

If the second entity really doesn’t exist, but is filing a complaint in federal court, is that a Federal offense?

What about the attorneys for the second entity? What will the Texas bar association say about all that?

I’m getting a headache. Call in the Curmudgeon!

And, follow the money trail! The only winners are the attorneys!

I like Iker.  ” Don’t Mess With Texas ”

Do the “revisionists” in Fort Worth realize how unseemly and counterproductive this lawsuit is?

People seeking a spiritual home will shun those pursuing lawsuits because of the temporal and non-spiritual essence of what is prompting the “revisionists” to sue in the first place.

However, these “revisionists” will be very attractive to other secular/political activists of their ilk.  Together they the may form a church of the ‘here and now’ as opposed to a church of the undeserved and free gift of Salvation.

According to the estimable Curmudgeon Mrs Schori and her friends will be spending roughly $67,000,000 in their quest for….what? “Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned….” as William Congreve wrote.

Perhaps becuase the “Shori Led” diocese views Jack Iker as the second coming of Jim Jones, and refuse to follow Bishop Iker’s other sheep to the kool-aid trough, and view anything he does as dishonest and a fraud.  There is zero trust on either side, and, notwithstanding the “generous” offer of property, my guess is that they view Bishop Iker’s actions as illigitimate ab initio, and the runaway diocese’s actions as theft. Just a guess.

Dallasite:  It sounds like you might feel that Bp Iker is somehow not sincere in his effort to allow those churches who remained in TEC to maintain their property if they so desire.  This offier is certainly preferable to the continued and persistent litigation by those who chose to remain in TEC.  It you demonize those with whom you disagree, it is easy to point fingers and call names.  You are correct- the trust level is gone on both sides of this matter, and is there any reason why not?  Those folks I know personally who have remained with TEC are shameless in their arrogance that they have the true answer and behave accordingly.  Many of those who remain with EDFW and Iker are left with the wreckage of their anger and spiteful behavior.  It is not a pretty sight and certainly would not draw any one new into the church family.  A sad sad state of affairs.  This last action by TEC just smacks of one more effort to run EDFW out of money by sueing them at every turn.  What a Christian example!

MhMC, I believe that Bishop Iker is sincere, but I don’t believe that those who oppose him believe it.  I don’t live in Fort Worth and don’t have a dog in this fight, and believe that the Bishop has every right to lead his flock whereever he wants.  He is free to exercise his own “arrogance” that he has the true answer as he pleases.  I don’t think that he has standing to complain about anything the Episcopal Church (the one the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth/Iker is no longer a part of) does, outside of the property disputes (such as when the Presiding Bishop visited Fort Worth-I recall that Iker complained about her incursion onto “his” turf).  I do have a problem with his continued use of the Episcopal Church name and “brand”.  Whatever the legal name is, I think that use is misleading and the arguments that have been thrown at me are disingenuous.  I think his lawyers (who are very good) will use that to confuse the jury.  Whenever I’ve raised thatissue, someone always tells me all about the legal name, that “Episcopal” is a perfectly good adjective, and that they ahve every right to use it, etc. etc..  I hear those comments, but they miss the point. 

I will admit that I am not a fan of Bishop Iker.  From my perspective, I don’t believe his leadership has been good for the Diocese of Fort Worth (either one), and I think his deliberate efforts to isolate the diocese from the Episcopal Church and withdraw himself from his responsibilities as a Bishop of the Episcopal Church (when he was one) denied his diocese and the Episcopal Church at large the benefit of his viewpoint and his input.  I think is choice to withdraw from the affairs of the church betrayed his own brand of arrogance,  and served only to fuel distrust and dysfunction within his see.  For their part, his more vocal opponents, most notably Katie Sherrod, have not been much better.

MhMac mentions the arrogance of those in Fort Worth remaining in TEC; I think there’s arrogance on both sides.  Both sides think they’re right and that the other guys are not only wrong, but dead wrong about everything.  I guess it’s arrogance when the other guys do it, but passion or the courage of your convictions or whatever you want to call it when you or your side do it. 

I like Fort Worth a lot, and considered moving there at one point; with respect to the Episcopal Church, at least, I’m glad I stayed put.

so, Dallasite, why do you claim to be what you are not? You do not live in Dallas.  How disingenuous, my friend,

+JLI

?? Bishop, I don’t understand your comment.  I do indeed live in Dallas.