Episcopal break-up

You've probably seen reports on the break up of the Episcopal Church due to its support for women and gays in the clergy, with several wealthy parishes in Virginia breaking away. I am a former Episcopalian who left the Church for reasons that had nothing to do with its stance on female or gay priests. I was active at the time the new Prayer Book was being introduced to replace the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.

Some of the more conservative parishes here in New Jersey were strongly opposed to adoption of the new Prayer Book, and two decided to secede. One of those was St. Mark's Church in Orange, NJ. The Diocese of Newark immediately suspended the priest, replacing him with a new priest, and asserted its right to control all the property of the parish. The parish refused to admit the new priest and sued to retain the property.

The short and long of it is that, at least here in New Jersey, the local parish lost the case, both at trial and on appeal. The Diocese took over the property.

I don't know how things will play out in Virginia, but I have a feeling a lot of those parishoners are going to be pretty unhappy if they find they have to worship in a tent or the local store front. Those parishes tend to be home to a lot of fat and happy rich folk who are not going to like losing their pretty buildings, opulent altars, and large endowment funds.

(Just for the record, I didn't leave the Episcopal Church because of the Prayer Book).