A church property bill before the Virginia Senate, if passed, could set off massive defections of churches from their denominations with implications for other states, and repercussions for several Episcopal dioceses currently embroiled in property disputes. Virginia State legislator William C. Mims, who is himself an Episcopalian, attorney and active in church law and church property issues, wants to give local congregations the power to break away from their national denominations, many of whom are deeply divided over theological and moral issues especially the ordination of avowed homosexuals to the priesthood and gay civil unions. The bill is in its...
