Court: Va. congregations can split from church

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By AP
20 December 2008 @ 03:36 am AEST

FAIRFAX, Va. - Nearly a dozen conservative church congregations in Virginia have won a lawsuit involving their split from the U.S. Episcopal Church because of differences involving theology and homosexuality.

The last court ruling in the long-running case was issued Friday.

A Fairfax County judge said the departing congregations are allowed under Virginia law to leave, and that they can keep their property as they realign under the authority of conservative Anglican bishops from Africa.

The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia argued it was the true owner of the church property and that the congregations' votes to leave the Episcopal Church were invalid.

It plans to appeal the rulings.

The dispute has its origins in the 2003 consecration of an openly gay bishop, which angered a conservative minority.

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