A California Superior Court judge ordered that endowment assets be divided between the two dioceses of San Joaquin in a decision filed Aug. 25.
 
Last December, deputies to the annual convention of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin voted overwhelmingly to disaffiliate from the General Convention and to come under the primatial oversight of the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone in South America. In March, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori reconstituted an Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin consisting of those clergy, parishes and individuals that did not wish to leave. The Episcopal diocese sued the Anglican diocese in June for control of the endowment.
 
In his order and stipulation decree, Judge Adolfo M. Corona awarded some endowment accounts to the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin and other accounts to the Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin. Drawing from some endowment accounts will require the consent of both dioceses. The court will retain an oversight interest in management and expenditures from the endowment funds.
 
“Until further order of the court, the assets of the accounts described in paragraph one of this order shall be deemed deposited into the court’s registry while remaining housed at and managed by Merrill Lynch,” Judge Corona said. “All management decisions regarding the investment, liquidation, or other disposition of the securities and other assets of the accounts shall be approved and agreed by plaintiffs and the Anglican defendants and in a form acceptable to Merrill Lynch, and in the event such agreement cannot be reached, then the parties shall apply to the court for a further order.”
 
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