[lainie]

Link to the Washington Post version of this story:

Episcopal Churches to Vote on Departure
Fairfax [VA] Congregations Dismayed by Direction
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/03/AR2006120301186.html?nav=rss_email/components

Two of the country's largest and most historic Episcopal congregations -- both in Fairfax County -- will vote next week on whether to leave the U.S. church on ideological grounds and affiliate instead with a controversial Nigerian archbishop. The decision could lead to a bitter court battle and the loss of $25 million in property.

[Elsie]

 The decision could lead to a bitter court battle and the loss of $25 million in property.

Matthew 24:1-2

 1.  Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings.
 2.  "Do you see all these things?" he asked. "I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down."

 

Acts 19:18-20
 18.  Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds.
 19.  A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.
 20.  In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

[XR7]

The decision could lead to a bitter court battle and the loss of $25 million in property.

The local congregation will likely lose the property, because the property is usually already deeded to the main denomination - even though it was paid for and maintained for years by the tithes and offerings of the local congregation. That's probably why there has not already been a mass exodus out of the denomination. Money.