Some news, finally, from the big Grace & St Stephens / Rev Don Armstrong / Episcopal Church property donnybrook.
An El Paso County District Court judge ruled today that the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado and officials of Grace Church and St. Stephen’s Parish in Colorado Springs must resolve their $17 million property dispute at trial.
District Judge Larry E. Schwartz concluded, after reviewing six volumes of documents filed in the last year, that he cannot make a decision based solely on matters of law because “there is virtually no agreement as to the facts.”
Armstrong led a majority of parish — the largest in the Colorado diocese — into quitting the Episcopal Church and signing up with the Nigerian-led CANA. Of course, they claimed that they got to keep the church building and associated property when they left, regardless of the canon and constitution of the diocese.
While the judge allowed the parish’s contention that they had some status as an established non-profit organization, he denied several motions they had filed to dismiss the case.
No word yet on the criminal investigation (still ongoing) against Armstrong.
The civil trial is expected to start in early 2009.