Judge orders church to leave

The Adventist church, which meets on Saturdays, had a long-standing rule not to lease out its property on Sundays to other groups, but, Holman said, it decided to break its rule to help the Anglican church.

“I think we have gotten to the point where we have rounded the bend and people have accepted whether we get to stay here or not, that we are going to be about being the church,” he said.

Attorney John Shiner, who represents the Episcopal Diocese, said he believes the more than three-year-old legal battle is over.

“This has been the result of, unfortunately, a lot of litigation, and yes, it has been something we have been requesting all along,” he said.

Wednesday’s court order comes nearly two weeks after the California Supreme Court declined to review St. Luke’s case.

“Reconciliation and renewal in Christ continue to be our priorities in this transition, with our baptismal covenant calling us to respect every person’s dignity,” Los Angeles Episcopal Bishop J. Jon Bruno said in statement. “Sunday services and other local ministries will continue with new leadership, and I welcome all parishioners, present and past, to participate in the life of St. Luke’s.”

Bruno is tentatively expected to preside over a service at 2 p.m. Oct. 18 at St. Luke’s Church.

 VERONICA ROCHA covers public safety and the courts. She may be reached at (818) 637-3232 or by e-mail at veronica.rocha@latimes.com.