Texas Cathedral Surrenders Status in Dispute over Property and Theology
Episcopal News Service. October 10, 1990 [90259]
Stephen Weston, Canon for Communication and Program for the Diocese of Dallas
In a continuing struggle over practical and doctrinal issues, the cathedral of a prominent traditionalist diocese has broken ranks with its bishop, voting to voluntarily give up its cathedral designation and return to parish status.
By a 10-5 vote on October 6, the vestry of All Saints Cathedral in the Diocese of Fort Worth asked Bishop Clarence C. Pope, Jr., to find a parish more suited to the expressed ideals of the Episcopal Synod of America (ESA), which Pope heads. The majority of the cathedral vestry and its dean, the Very Rev. William Nix, Jr., do not share the ESA's attempts to distance itself from what it perceives as liberal trends in the Episcopal Church.
At issue is the disposition of church property in the event that the ESA separates itself from the Episcopal Church. A diocesan canon introduced by Pope at the diocesan convention a year ago attempted to deny any claim held by the Episcopal Church in the USA to church property.
To protect the real and personal property of All Saints, the vestry voted unanimously in early August to insert new wording from the canon of the national church into the articles of agreement between the cathedral and the diocese. The addendum stated that, in the event the diocese separates from the Episcopal Church, All Saints' property would be held in trust by the national church.
Responding in a communication to individual vestry members, Pope requested that the title to property addendum be eliminated The vestry refused, and asked that Pope find a more suitable location for the cathedral within 12 months.
Nix said the action to dissolve the cathedral status following Pope's rejection of the property addendum was not designed to embarrass him. "We intended to sign it by October 1 so we would not be in limbo at convention," Nix said.
Pope said he accepted the vestry's decision "with a heavy heart." Nix said he has been under significant pressure to conform to Pope's ESA perspective, one that "blocked free and open debate" on the issues. Vestry action "will now relieve this parish from being the flagship most of us don't support. It will free the bishop to select the church he wants. We want to get back to the mission and ministry of the parish."
While the possibility of an ESA exodus from the Episcopal Church precipitated vestry action, Nix said the issue has greater importance "because parishioners are the legal agents of the church property." He also personally felt his vows to uphold the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Episcopal Church were at stake.
"I can't be part of any action of a parish or diocese that willfully conflicts with the constitution and canons of the Episcopal Church," Nix said. "I see it as no less an important issue than that. I am convinced that is the representative view of the congregation. If rupture comes, we don't want to be a part of that."
"We will take the legal steps to see that our parish and property are not taken along," Nix said. "This is a very painful, exhausting experience. We are all still numb. No one is happy about this, but there is a sense of relief. We have been living in this tension for two years."