It also speaks directly to the willful ignorance of most non-Episcopal commentors on the ECUSA. We don't even call ourselves Protestant anymore (since 1984), and certainly one must do more than merely show up to become a "member."
I was surpirsed the Civil Courts overruled Canon Law in California - they certainly didn't in St. Louis re: Church of the Good Shepherd.
When I was Chair of my local Parish Endowment Fund in the 90's I was greatly surprised to learn that the Diocese ultimately is the final beneficiary of the fund, even though in this case it is wholly and legally separated from the Diocesan Fund. Some language to do with a requirement that the Parish priest be an ex officio Trustee (for spiritual guidance); thus connecting the local Fund to Diocesan Authority.
Wouldn't it be fun to watch the fireworks if my Parish voted to break communion with ECUSA and, in addition to claiming $2.5MM worth of real estate, the Diocese went after the Endowment?
Two lesbians who had attended our church in N California for years, asked and then demanded that our priest marry them.
He refused to do so. They went to the Bishop and demanded that he force our priest to marry them. His reply, "That priest has never listened to me before, and I can guarantee you that he will not listen now!"
They left our church and went to one about 12 miles away and the left wing priest married them in that church. As a result some members of that church are now going to ours. In the past two decades that community has been infested with the very rich elite liberals from NY and the LA area.
Our current Bishop is in the process of resigning. It has been a rough time for him since he voted for the dark side perverts. At least one church in his Diocese has left since the vote, and he apparently did nothing to them for leaving.