Dispute over old church resolved

The historic church building on Fifth Street that has been the source of an ownership dispute after St. John’s Episcopal Church split into two congregations 21⁄2 years ago due to moral differences will be returned to the Episcopal Church.

A settlement reached on May 14 stipulates that St. John’s Anglican Church, which has been meeting in the 118-year-old building since the split, will move out by July 1 and relinquish its claim to some $450,000 in endowment funds to the Episcopal Church. The other congregation, which retained the name “St. John’s Episcopal Church,” has been meeting at Elim Lutheran Church, but will move into the Fifth Street building.

“Elim has been genuine, gracious and loving to us during this time,” said the Rev. Norman Cram, pastor of St. John’s Episcopal Church.

Under the agreement, the Rev. David Miller, rector of St. John’s Anglican Church, will gain greater financial ownership of his family’s home. When the house was purchased in 1999, the church owned 44 percent of it and paid the down payment of $185,000. After considerable discussion during settlement meetings, the Episcopal group agreed to relinquish half of its ownership share.

Cram is grateful that a settlement was reached. He was particularly concerned that the dispute between the Christian groups might have to be settled through divisive court proceedings, rather than a peaceful settlement.

“Throughout this time, my desire was to focus on ministry and our mission, and to put aside the distractions brought be a litigious process. This settlement frees me up to focus more on my ministry. My goal is to now have a seamless transition,” he said.

The Episcopal congregation, consisting of around 30 people, will first gather at the First Street church building on July 1 for a customary 9:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist service.

“We will be able to offer a full church program each week, including three services,” Cram said.

Services will be held at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Sundays, as well as at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesdays.

The Anglican congregation will begin meeting temporarily at the Petaluma Community Center in Lucchesi Park until a permanent home is found, said Mike McIntosh, an administrator for the church.

“We will be releasing more information at a later date,” he said.

The vast majority of the members of St. John’s Episcopal Church voted to sever relations with the Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Church Diocese on Dec. 17, 2006 due to moral differences, primarily asserting that gays and lesbians should not be allowed to serve in positions of church leadership. The congregation renamed itself St. John’s Anglican Church, and claimed ownership rights of the church and other property.

(Contact Dan Johnson at dan.johnson@arguscourier.com)