Parishes file Plea in Intervention

Forty seven parishes and missions of the diocese have filed a Plea in Intervention in the lawsuit against the diocese that is currently before the 141st District Court. Collectively, the 47 churches are termed the “Intervening Congregations.”

The plea asks the court to acknowledge through a declaratory judgment that, “in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, the title to the real property being occupied and subject to the control of Intervening Congregations is held by the Corporation of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth in trust for the use and benefit of each Intervening Congregation” and that this trust relationship is superior to any other claims.

Further, because certain plaintiffs in the original suit, as well as third-party defendants, have “asserted and/or are asserting claims to the title of real property that are inconsistent with the express provisions of the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth and adverse to the beneficial ownership interests of the Intervening Congregations,” making the plea filing necessary, the plea asks that the congregations’ legal costs be reimbursed by those parties.

Consideration of the plea will not occur until the stay of proceedings issued Monday, Nov. 16, by the Fort Worth Appellate Court is lifted.