Accokeek to appeal Messitte's decision

Robert Stowe England | 29 October 2001

ACCOKEEK, Maryland -- Christ Church rector Fr. Samuel Edwards and the vestry will appeal federal Judge Peter J. Messitte's decision to void his contract, oust him as rector immediately, and oust him, his wife and two children from the rectory within 10 days.

The appeal will also made made to the judge's order compeling the vestry to allow Acting Bishop Jane Dixon to come and go as she pleases on the property, preach, holding meetings, run vestry meetings and interpet canons within the diocese as she sees fit with accountability to no one.

Charles Nalls of deKieffer and Horgan, who represents the parish and its rector, will file a notice of appeal with the U.S. District Court of Maryland's southern division in Greenbelt later this week and will also file a motion for a stay of judgment before Judge Messitte.

If Messite denies the motion for a stay, then the appeal will go forward immeidately to the fourth circut Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va.

Nalls would not comment in detail on the judge's ruling. "There are a number of constitutional deficiences in it," he said.

Fr. Edwards, who is in Mundelein, Illinois attending a Forward in Faith national gathering, was unavailable for comment.