...”the church properties are not owned by the congregation, but by the diocese, presbytery...”
.....yes exactly...Presbytery not only owns the church but also the minister’s retirement fund and shares of stock that were given....I’m happy to report that rebellion is underway however in both PA and MO where congregations have gone to court to pull out and take their assets with them...same with several Episcopalian parishes in northern VA....gay marriage was the last straw for them.
...... Protestant denominations split in the 1850s over slavery...this time the tipping point appears to be homosexuality.
Homosexual "marriages" and ordinations of noncelibate homosexuals have become a catalyst for the splitting of denominations. However, secessionist bodies have existed for decades. In the instance of Presbyterians, the OPC (1930s start-up) and the EPC (1970s start-up) represented breakaways from the UPCUSA, the Northern Presbyterian church, while the PCA, another 1970s start-up, was a conservative split from the PCUS, the Southern Presbyterian church. All three groups believe in Biblical inerrancy and subscribe to a somewhat strict to very strict interpretation of the Westminster Standards. What is happening now is that even the moderates in the mainline churches are becoming fed up. They did not vigorously protest the de facto abandonment of the historic Reformation creeds and the Protestant "solas", the rise of the "social gospel", i.e., socialism and radical egalitarian baptized by church officials, and the ordination of women to the positions of deacon, elder, pastor, or priest. However, the rise of homosexual activism is the proverbial straw that broke the moderates' back.
The split between looser and stricter interpretations of the Westminster Standards had roiled Presbyterian circles for over a century before Fort Sumter. The slavery issue was the catalyst for the split between the Northern and Southern Presbyterian churches that had been brewing for several decades. Similar splits among Methodists and Baptists in the same time frame had older theological causes as well as immediate political ones. History may not exactly repeat itself, but you can hear similar tunes.
Generally, no, and absolutely, no.
.
For pension issues, start here (pdf):
http://www.layman.org/layman/Resources/pension-brochure.pdf
As for property, if you want the long answer, start here:
http://www.layman.org/layman/Resources/guide-to-church-prop-ad.htm
Or, if you don't want to spring for the book, here: http://www.layman.org/layman/Resources/lawsuits-court-filings.htm