Christ Church Episcopal is currently engaged in a legal dispute involving the ownership of its historic church building located on Johnson Square and other Church properties and assets.

The dispute began in March 2006 when the Church’s former rector and members of the vestry covertly and without prior notice to the Episcopal Bishop of Georgia or the congregation changed the Church’s articles of incorporation to disavow Christ Church’s 217 year affiliation with The Episcopal Church. Subsequently, the former rector and vestry asserted that Christ Church would become affiliated with the Church of Uganda under the control of the Ugandan Bishop.

Unfortunately, efforts to resolve the matter outside of the legal process were unsuccessful. Therefore, the Diocese of Georgia was compelled to file a lawsuit in the Superior Court of Chatham County in November of 2007. In the lawsuit, the Diocese of Georgia asked the Court to declare that all real and personal property of Christ Church be held in trust for The Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Georgia as provided for in the Constitution and Canons of the Church and our Diocese; and that a judgment be rendered against the former rector and vestry for all sums used for and diverted to purposes other than for the mission and ministry of The Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Church and our continuing Episcopal congregation of Christ Church, known as Christ Church Episcopal, subsequently joined the case as plaintiffs.

On August 14, 2009, Chatham County Superior Court Judge Michael Karpf heard oral arguments on summary judgment motions filed by both parties relating to who owns the property in question.

On October 27, 2009, Judge Karpf ruled in favor of Christ Church Episcopal on all motions, granting the church “immediate possession” of all property in dispute.  The following day, the breakaway congregation filed a Notice of Appeal to the Supreme Court of Georgia seeking to overturn Judge Karpf’s ruling.  The appeal is currently pending with the Georgia Supreme Court.

Throughout Christ Church’s long history, it has actively participated in and enthusiastically embraced being a part of The Episcopal Church.

While Christ Church Episcopal regrets the need for this court action, we, along with the Diocese of Georgia and The Episcopal Church, remain strongly committed to defending our 200+ year legacy of affiliation with The Episcopal Church. And we continue to welcome all of those in the community – new and familiar – who desire to worship with us as Episcopalians.

We also remain steadfast and confident in our cause and are humbled and gratified by the overwhelming support we have received from throughout our community, The Episcopal Church and The Anglican Communion.

We are hopeful these legal proceedings will be resolved quickly thereby enabling us to return to our church home on Johnson Square.

In the meantime, we ask that you join us in our continuing prayers for our church, our congregation and our brothers and sisters on Johnson Square.