A state statute dating back to divisions over slavery and the Civil War provides that when a church or religious society experiences a division, local congregations may vote to determine with which branch of the divided body they wish to affiliate. The Richmond Times-Dispatch recently reported that Fairfax Circuit Judge Randy I. Bellows has ruled that the trial will focus on whether there has been a division within The Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Virginia, whether the Anglican Communion meets the law’s definition of a church or religious society, whether there is a division in the Anglican Communion, and whether the departing congregations were attached to the Anglican Communion.
The diocese is expected to argue that The Episcopal Church is a hierarchical national church and that in a hierarchical church only the official governing bodies are capable of determining when a formal split has occurred.
Comments:
It is ironic that the first Bishop in the USA, Samuel Seabury was consecrated by the Scottish, because for political reasons the Church of England had to be bypassed! Now we need the help of other jurisdictions to help reform the Church in North America, or at least realign the faithful.
http://www.pwcweb.com/ecw/prof_toc.html