Legal News
This section provides a historical record of legal actions regarding the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth.
In addition to news articles below, the Texas judicial system maintains a list of each action on the case related to our diocese on their page, along with links to documents.
Click here to view the court’s records related to this case.
Litigation update
There was a hearing on Friday, March 11, before Judge John Chupp in the 141st. District Court, Tarrant County, regarding still-pending issues of personal property, interest on bank funds, and congregational names and intellectual property. The hearing was held via ZOOM. The attorneys representing the diocese associated with the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) told the court they have no further issues with St. Stephen’s, Wichita Falls, also known as the Episcopal Church of Wichita Falls; nor do they…
St. Mary’s, Hillsboro, prevails in bequest dispute with ACNA
[Episcopal News Service] A county court has affirmed that a North Texas Episcopal congregation is entitled to a large bequest from a former parishioner, rejecting the claim to the money made by a breakaway congregation that is aligned with the Anglican Church in North America, or ACNA. St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Hillsboro received more than $1.3 million from the estate of Hendley McDonald after he died in 2017. ACNA officials laid claim to the bequest, arguing the money rightfully belonged to…
The Episcopal Church pays legal fees
On February 22, 2021, the Supreme Court of the United States declined to hear our cases, which meant the decision of the Texas Supreme Court awarding more than $100 million worth of property and our name to people who left The Episcopal Church in 2008 stands. Despite the fact some fees and expenses may have been paid by an insurance company and that there is no statute obligating the ACNA Diocese to seek recovery of their fees, the ACNA Diocese…
Bishop Andy Doyle and Lutheran Bishop Erik Gronberg write in support
Bishop Andy Doyle, Episcopal Diocese of Texas, and Bishop Erik Gronberg, Northern Texas – Northern Louisiana Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, have both written letters to Bishop Scott Mayer expressing their dismay in the wake of the Supreme Court of the United States declining to take our cases, and to express their support for the Episcopalians in North Central Texas. Letter from Bishop Doyle, Diocese of Texas Bishop Doyle wrote to Bishop Mayer and to the Rev. Karen Calafat,…
Bishop Scott Mayer’s Message to the Diocese
Bishop Scott Mayer has issued this message to the diocese in the wake of the decision by the Supreme Court of the United States not to hear our appeal of the decision of Texas Supreme Court that awards more than $100 million in Episcopal Church property to a group that broke away from The Episcopal Church. Watch the video on YouTube or below. Read the text of the bishop’s message The news that the Supreme Court of the United States…
US Supreme Court declines to hear case
On February 22, 2021, the Supreme Court of the United States declined to hear our cases, which means the decision of the Texas Supreme Court stands. (20-534) ALL SAINTS’ EPISCOPAL CHURCH V. DIOCESE OF FORT WORTH, ET AL. (20-536) THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, ET AL. V. DIOCESE OF FORT WORTH, ET AL. Bishop Scott Mayer said, “I know this is a disappointment to us all, but as followers of Jesus Christ, we live in hope.” “Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry of…
Standing in solidarity
Bishop Scott Mayer has shared a letter from the Rev. Celia Ellery, rector of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in San Angelo. The letter is especially meaningful in that Ellery and her congregation understand very clearly what the situation is here. In 2006, a questionable majority of the members of Good Shepherd voted to leave The Episcopal Church to affiliate with the Diocese of Uganda, Africa; however, they refused the order of Bishop C. Wallis Ohl, then the bishop of Northwest…
The presiding bishop and president of the House of Deputies stand with us
Both Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and the Rev. Gay Jennings, president of the House of Deputies, have sent assurances of their affection, support and prayers. Michael Curry’s letter Curry wrote: Dear Bishop Mayer, Clergy and People of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, I recall with great fondness the time not so long ago when I was blessed to make a pastoral visitation with you. We worshipped God together, visited several of your ministries, had opportunity for conversation and fellowship.…
Episcopalians regret Texas Supreme Court decision
This is the statement issued by Bishop Mayer and other leaders of the diocese in the wake of of the May 22, 2020, decision of the Supreme Court of Texas. ——————————— The Rt. Rev. Scott Mayer, provisional bishop of Fort Worth; the Standing Committee, and the Board of Trustees of the Corporation of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth are saddened by the May 22, 2020, decision of the Texas Supreme Court that failed to uphold the opinion of the…
Bishop Mayer letter to the diocese in wake of Supreme Court decision
This is the letter Bishop Scott Mayer wrote in the wake of the Supreme Court of Texas decision issued on May 22, 2020. ————————– Dear beloveds, On May 22, 2020, the Texas Supreme Court’s decision went against us. This decision is a disappointment to us all, but as followers of Jesus Christ, we live in hope. Read the decision Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry joins me in acknowledging our disappointment and urging all of us to be gentle with one…
Texas Supreme Court hears oral arguments
The Supreme Court of Texas heard oral arguments on Thursday, December 5, 2019. Both sides had 20 minutes to present their arguments and answer questions from the justices. We anticipate an opinion to be issued sometime between March 2020 and the end of June 2020. “I am grateful for the presence of those who traveled to Austin to be present for today’s hearing,” said Bishop Scott Mayer. “Now we await the deliberations of the justices. As we do so, let…
How to watch the oral arguments via video
Oral arguments before the Supreme Court of Texas are live streamed. Oral arguments in our case will be heard at 9 am Thursday, December 5, 2019. To watch the live stream of the arguments Thursday morning, go to this link. In the left hand menu, click on “Oral Arguments,” underlined in the photo below. That will take you to this page. Once there, in the center of the page under Video Recordings, click on the link (underlined in the…
Texas Supreme Court will hold oral argument December 5
The Supreme Court of Texas will hold oral arguments in our case on December 5, 2019, in Austin. Bishop Scott Mayer has invited Episcopalians to pray for the best outcome in our case in the weeks leading up and during the oral arguments. Unless otherwise noted, the information below is from the website of the Supreme Court of Texas. “The Supreme Court normally holds oral arguments once a month on three consecutive days. On each day that oral arguments are…
Texas Supreme Court to review Court of Appeals opinion
On Friday, August 30, 2019, the Texas Supreme Court agreed to hear oral argument on both (1) the breakaway parties’ petition for review the Fort Worth Court of Appeals April 2018 opinion in favor of the loyal Episcopalians of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth as well as (2) our conditional cross-petition for review. The conditional cross-petition asserted additional reasons why we should prevail in this litigation. The oral argument will be held at 9 am December 5, 2019. The time allotted to…
Texas Supreme Court to consider briefing; petitions for review still under consideration
On Friday, February 8, 2019, the Texas Supreme Court said it would like to consider briefing on the merits before deciding whether to take up the breakaways parties’ petition for review of the Fort Worth Court of Appeals April 2018 opinion in favor of the loyal Episcopalians of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth and our conditional cross-petition for review. The conditional cross-petition asserted additional grounds to prevail in the litigation. The petitions for review are still under consideration by the Supreme Court.…
Second Court of Appeals opinion favors Episcopal parties
On Thursday, April 5, 2018, the Fort Worth Court of Appeals issued a 178-page opinion in favor of the loyal Episcopalians of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth. In a decision authored by the Chief Justice, the Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s 2015 judgment for the breakaway parties and held that the loyal Episcopalians are entitled to control both the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth and its Corporation. Noting that the parties agreed that the Corporation held legal…