Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth v. Episcopal Church

in which Justice HECHT, Justice GREEN, and Justice GUZMAN joined, and in Parts I, II, III, and IV-A of which Chief Justice JEFFERSON joined.

This direct appeal involves the same principal issue we addressed in Masterson v. Diocese of Northwest Texas, 422 S.W.3d 594, 2013 WL 4608632 (Tex.2013): what methodology is to be used when Texas courts decide which faction is entitled to a religious organization’s property following a split or schism? In Masterson we held that the methodology referred to as “neutral principles of law” must be used. But, in this case the trial court granted summary…