Greetings,

   One of the things that I have found fascinating as the
property dispute escalates is that the PC(USA) news service has
been absolutely silent, until today…sort of.

The PC(USA) News Service has today issued a press release trumpeting
their success in three cases in Southern California with a fourth case
pending.

HOWEVER, these cases have one thing in common which the developing
cases do not appear to have:  The all involve divided
congregations.  It is not clear that in the case of a unified
congregation wanting to leave the PC(USA) that this case law would
apply.

Furthermore, in at lease two of the cases, Torrance v. Hanmi and Serone
v. Hanmi, I’m not sure what the News Service is trumpeting.  If
you go to the LA Superior Court web site
and type in the case numbers (BC332180 and BC327134 respectively), both
cases are listed with a status of pending and the Torrance specifically
indicates pre-trial motions.  Now the Serone case may be
substantially over on July 20 when a motion for summary adjudication
was denied and the PC(USA) news service indicates that a confidential
settlement was reached.  The Torrance case is acknowledged as
going to trial so the PC(USA) is promoting success with an injunction
and pre-trial hearings.