The Falls Church Anglican to Appeal to U.S. Supreme Court

A breakaway Anglican parish that was forced out of the Falls Church location where the congregation had gathered for nearly 300 years has filed a petition for appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court over a property dispute, according to the Christian Post.

"Through the work of the Holy Spirit, we achieved a broad degree of unity in our decision to bring these matters forward to the Supreme Court, believing that God has uniquely positioned TFCA to do so," the church told its members in an email, as reported by the Christian Post.

The Falls Church Anglican split from the Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, citing concerns over a shift away from orthodox Christian doctrine including the decision to ordain an openly gay bishop. 

The parish was compelled to leave its home in Falls Church by a January 2012 ruling by Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Randy Bellows. The 113-page ruling told The Falls Church Anglican and six other congregations in Northern Virginia to give their church property to the diocese. The decision was the result of nearly five years of litigation and hundreds of thousands of dollars in congregation-donated defense funds.

The parish appealed that decision to the Virginia Supreme Court in June 2012.

According to a statement on the church website, in April of this year the Virginia Supreme Court ruled that The Anglican's real property and much of the personal property, including lands, building, and money, would go to the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia.

Should the Falls Church Anglican move forward with its Supreme Court appeal, the church has until Thursday, Sept. 12, to file its petition, according to the Christian Post.

• Departure Bittersweet for Member of The Falls Church Anglican
• Anglican Parish Appeals Fairfax Court Decision