Barbara Tricarico talks with George Freeman while the two clean the kitchen of what will be the parish house for St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. The group is finding a new home after a split of the congregation in a December vote. REBECCA SELL/THE FREE LANCE-STAR View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

WHO GETS EPISCOPAL PROPERTY?

RELIGION >> SPLIT SPURS SUITS

Episcopal church dispute heading to court as factions fight over property ownership

BY FRANK DELANO

Date published: 2/9/2007

BY FRANK DELANO

First, the fight. Then, the separation. Then, lawyers filing papers in court about property.

A religious divorce is under way at a tiny church in the Northern Neck and at 14 other parishes in Virginia that recently voted to split from the Episcopal Church.

Members of St. Stephen's Church in Heathsville say they still speak to each other and occasionally play bridge together. In December, however, a majority of the congregation voted to sever its ties with the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and join a new Anglican group headed by an African archbishop.

In Heathsville, the Anglicans have claimed church property and changed the locks on the doors and the signs out front.

Ousted Episcopalians have elected new leaders and now worship with a new Episcopal rector at a Methodist church. Yesterday, the loyalists were cleaning up an old house in the village to serve--temporarily, they hope--as a parish hall.

Both sides say the controversy over church doctrine has strengthened their religious resolve. Both sides say they've received help and encouragement from like-minded supporters far and wide.

But their differences appear irreconcilable and courts will decide who gets the property.

The strife among Episcopalians began in 2003 when a convention approved an openly gay priest as bishop of New Hampshire. Outraged conservatives viewed his selection and other Episcopal practices as violations of biblical tenets.

In December and January, 15 Virginia churches voted to secede from the Episcopal Diocese. The property of the parishes is valued at millions of dollars.

According to Northumberland County records, the real estate of St. Stephen's is worth $779,000. It includes an 1881 chapel, a 1999 parish-hall addition, a 1900 house next door and a cemetery.

The day after its Dec. 17 vote to join the Anglican group, the trustees of St. Stephen's (Anglican) filed a petition in the Northumberland County Circuit Court to declare them the owners of the church's property.

Their claim was made under a Virginia law that allows a judge to award church property to the majority of members voting in a church division. St. Stephen's members voted 99-33 to leave the Episcopal fold.

THE BREAK: St. Stephen's in Heathsville has joined 14 other Virginia churches in seceding from Episcopal diocese over ordination of gay priest and other practices they think violate biblical tenants. THE DISPUTE: The secessionists and diocese are now in a court fight over who owns the church property. AT STAKE: 1881 chapel, 1999 parish-hall addition, 1900 house next door and cemetery. Total value: $779,000. Below are the 15 churches that have voted to secede from the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, assessed real-estate values for some of them, and where the dispute over church property stands. The breakaway churches represent 11 percent of the diocese's baptized membership and 18 percent of its average Sunday attendance of 32,000. In 2006, the 15 churches pledged only $41,000 to the diocesan operating budget of $4.3 million. IN COURT Truro, City of Fairfax, $5 million Church of the Apostles, City of Fairfax, $2.76 million The Falls Church, Falls Church, $2.75 million St. Margaret's, Woodbridge, $1.5 million Church of the Epiphany, Herndon, $1.1 million Church of the Word, Gainesville, $973,500 St. Stephen's, Heathsville, $799,000 St. Paul's, Haymarket, $282,000 Christ the Redeemer, Centreville, NA Church of Our Savior, Loudoun, NA Potomac Falls Episcopal, Sterling, NA SETTLED All Saints', Dale City. Leasing church from diocese while new building is built. Christ our Lord, Lake Ridge. Vacated and abandoned property to diocese. Church of the Holy Spirit, Ashburn. Mission church with no real estate. South Riding, Loudoun. Mission church with no real estate.

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Date published: 2/9/2007

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