The bishop will probably get to keep the property. Here in Peachtree City, Georgia, almost all the parishioners at the Episcopal church wanted to split from the diocese, but the bishop brought out his lawyers and made some threats, so the bulk of the old parish now meets in a public hall while the church facility these same people paid for entertains a tiny handful of holdouts.
From what I’ve read about how these court cases go, you’re probably right.
“I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
You can’t let property hold you back. Let them have their filthy and defiled property. All my mother’s folks were Episcopalian. The dead ones at least aren’t around to see what has happened to their church.
It is but a thing
A place to meet
If the Bishop so loves the Property
Let it be a millstone about his neck
And a stumbling block.
Perhaps repentance will come with time
You are probably right, but it depends on how the parish was set up.
For instance, in the island we spend our summers on in Maine, the Episcopal church has always been served by Episcopal priests or ministers, in good odor with the Episcopal bishop of Maine. It is in every way but one an Episcopal church.
But the church building was incorporated by canny parishioners as a non-denominational church, with a lay board of directors who summer on the island. There’s no way on earth that they can’t do whatever they want with their church, and the bishop could only sputter.
But soon after the property was put on the market because ECUSA couldn't maintain it and there were far too parishioners left. ECUSA didn't want to sell it to these folks (the only bidders), but had to in face of a discrimination suit. As a result, these folks in our province acquired a multi-million-dollar property (and beautiful church) for pennies (well, maybe dimes) on the dollar.
This is the second such case I've heard recently, and I don't get around the province much.
Results vary by state and by what the legal documents look like.
Good luck in trying to maintain the church. The parishioners have left and taken their money with them.