The Virginia Supreme Court has ruled that a Civil War-era law – used by a lower court to resolve a dispute over the ownership of church property – does not apply in the case. The congregations in question do not constitute a "branch" of The Episcopal Church, the court determined, and so could not use that antiquated measure to claim ownership. The opinion is a victory for TEC but leaves the matter of who owns the disputed property unresolved.
By finding it was erroneously applied, the constitutionality of the law in question did not need to be considered. The Baptist Joint Committee had urged the court to find the law unconstitutional. You can read the opinion here.
