Not exactly.
To be more precise, because their Bishop, Smith, supported the consecration of Robinson to Bishop, has ordained 2 homosexuals to the Diaconate, and not implored those in his Diocese to stop blessing same sex unions, these 6 Rectors have stopped sending money to the Diocese.
Every Church in a Diocese sends (or is supposed to) money to the Bishop for him to spend on various things, support of new ministries, Mission Churches, etc. These 6 stopped sending any money because they disagreed with Smith's positions.
Bishop Smith wrote a letter saying that they were removing themselves from being in Communion with ECUSA - and using all the legal power in ECUSA, has begun to the process of removing these Prists from their Churches, dissolving the Vestries, which means he'll move in and take over the property, and ultimately, defrocking the Priests - removing them from the Priesthood.
Unfortunately the Bishop is using powers given to Bishops in ECUSA while at the same time, he, Bishop Smith, is ignoring guideliness that were put out by the Primates of the Anglican Communion, and others that were stipulated at the ECUSA House of Bishops, March 15th 2005 - to cease ordaining homosexuals, and cease blessing of same sex unions.
It's now who has the biger gun and the better lawyer, and who can get either PB Griswold, or even the Archbishop of Canterbury to say something that will cause Bp. Smith to back off.
So far, it seems to be in the "meeting to communicate" stage between the Bishop and the Priests/Rectors, but I expect this will get escalated quickly.
Add one small fact about Episcopal Church. The vestry (board) decides what money to spend on what. The priest has no authority in whether money is sent to diocese. Also, many members of the Churches have designated that their contributions should not be used for the diocese.
Thank you both so much for the information - it is good to understand what is happening there. We have been battling this for years and years in the Presbyterian USA church....... the gays are out to take over there as well, and seemingly winning.....
Yes, now that the parishes have gone public in solidarity. Note that Bp Smith wants to talk to each of them privately. They've checkmated this by insisting on a joint public meeting and then telling everybody in the USA who might care.
Smith is either going to have to back down (and perhaps even away) or he's going to simply drop the hammer all the faster. I note that parishes do not have to leave Anglicanism to be rid of apostasy. There are several quite orthodox, quite Anglican provinces already operating. You just have to look (I know for a fact that my own Province has a parish in Greenwich, CT, for instance).
In Christ,
Deacon Paul+