Episcopal Church sold to Anglican Mission
Here’s one to make Episcopalians shake their heads: A key leader of the Anglican Mission in America is buying The Episcopal Church.
Newly elected President of the House of Deputies, the Reverend Gay Jennings, confirmed yesterday that Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has reached a deal to sell the church to Anglican Mission priest and oil magnate The Very Reverend Canon Mike Murphy.
Jefferts Schori will sell 80 percent of The Episcopal Church to Murphy now, with the other 20 percent reverting to him five years after the closing date, a person with knowledge of the sale told AngliCon on condition of anonymity because details have not officially been announced.
“It’s an agreement that has been reached,” Jennings said. “Now the process moves from here to Anglican Communion protocol.”
Canon Murphy is scheduled to arrive at 815 to speak later this week.
While the papers have been signed, it is expected that the Anglican Communion still must approve the sale in this unprecedented action. Church observers expect that the sale will be contingent upon getting the nod from a majority of the Provinces and no date has been set for a vote because the sale has not been presented to the Communion yet. A person with knowledge of the sale said approval is expected by the end of the year.
Forbes magazine estimates the sale price exceeded $1 billion for the church. But they noted that there are no comparisons available.
Asked if she was surprised by the deal, Jennings said: “On one hand, the timing was a bit of a surprise with General Convention ending just over a month ago. The deputies did discuss the sale of 815 and a relocation of headquarters though I don’t think anyone envisioned this. But in this business, I gave up being surprised a long time ago.”
Murphy, whose family has bankrolled numerous Anglican Mission works, first acknowledged he was in negotiations to buy The Episcopal Church late last week.
The Episcopal Church whose roots predate the founding of The United States of America has fallen on hard times in recent years. Yet, even with a string of parish failures, the loss of 2,000,000+ members, and costly lawsuits, the value of The Episcopal Church keeps increasing; boosted by inheritance of endowments provided by deceased members, decreasing operating expenses due to member defections and parish closures, and the sale of redundant parish buildings.
Canon Murphy has been a major player in the Anglican Mission since its inception and currently serves as the Episcopal Visitor to the Chairman of the Mission, The Rt. Rev. Chuck Murphy. The Anglican Mission, not unlike The Episcopal Church, has fallen on hard times in recent months barely surviving a major meltdown and departures of bishops, priests and parishes.
As for Murphy possibly closing down The Episcopal Church Jennings emphatically stated, “The Episcopal Church isn’t going anywhere.”
But clearly a major shakeup in in the works. A new owner will undboutedly bring in his own management team leaving the futures of Episcopal Church staff in doubt .
Reached for comment by AngliCon Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori said, “The sale doesn’t bother me one bit at this point. My concern is getting this church ready to meet its Millenial Development Goals and for our clergy to understand that objective and to let them know that they are doing a good job.”
Jefferts Schori would not address her future with The Episcopal Church.
“Honestly, my focus is to embrace the expansive, transformative and surprising work of the spirit and to keep in step with her. The what ifs and hypotheticals, I have to stay away from.”
A well-placed source within The Episcopal Church hinted that Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori may well return to her position as Dean of the Good Samaritan School of Theology in Corvallis, Oregon after the sale is completed.
Niether Canon Murphy nor Chairman Murphy were available for comment on their plans for their newly acquired church.
Boliver Shagnasty writes for AngliCon, the premire news site for the Anglican Communion. In his spare time, Boliver enjoys playing dead in public places, karaoke, and appearing in the background on TV.
