All Saints stands up to the powers

Some of you will remember that at the end of 2005 the IRS initiated an investigation into the tax-exempt status of All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena. I wrote about this issue on this blog (click here). Well, here's the rest of the story...

Last week the IRS serve two summons to the All Saints Church: one for all documents (emails, newsletters, notes, letters, etc) produced around the time of the sermon in question and one for the Rector, Rev. Ed Bacon, to appear before the IRS. Yesterday All Saints held a press conference to announce their course of action. Their decision: resist these two summons and take the issue to court. You can read the details of their decision as well as many other things relating to this investigation and the press release from yesterday's press conference by clicking here.

All Saints circulated by email an invitation for faith leaders from around the region to join them on the chancel steps for the press conference (see photo above). I was able to rearrange my schedule for the day and stand on the steps with them. It was a momentous occasion! We eagerly await the outcome of this case.

Progressive Christians Uniting had an excellent write up on their blog today as well. And I'm sure by Googling this issue you can find enough reading to keep you busy for a while. I wonder what the Religious Liberty Department of the General Conference has to say about this issue.