Out here on the West Coast, the Dioceses own the land/property and the buildings. We did an earthquake retro fit on our church about 6 years ago. I went to the regional banker who I had known for over two decades to try an get a loan. The church had several checking and savings accounts with this bank/banker. So did our finance chairman and I.
He called back the next day and said that the diocese owned our land, church and buildings, therefore we had no collaterial for a loan.
We have friends and relatives in the SW, MW and on the East Coast, and their Dioceses own the land/property and buildings.
We need a few court cases to come our way.
You're in ECUSA, no? The reference was to the Continuing (non-ECUSA) churches.