From Virginia-
The Church of Our Saviour at Little Oatlands south of Leesburg has come to an agreement with the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Virginia over its position as one of nine congregations that left the Episcopal Church in 2006.
The dissenting parishes joined the Convocation of Anglican Churches in North America, the Anglican District of Virginia and the Anglican Church in North America.
In a statement issued by Diocesan Secretary Henry D.W. Burt, Our Saviour's congregation voted Sunday in favor of the settlement. The Rev. Elijah B. White has led the small, traditional congregation for many years.
The Oatlands church was one of several conservative parishes to break with the Episcopal Church following a dispute over doctrinal matters. That split gave rise to the question of ownership of the property. To this point, church property has been held to be owned by the diocese. But, the dissenting parishes maintained the property belonged to the congregation. In the case of some of the larger parishes in the diocese, the value of the assets is considerable and the challenge to ownership remains active before the courts.
Under the settlement announced yesterday by the Diocese of Virginia, the Oatlands church will give up its efforts to keep the property and will cease all litigation immediately.
Our Saviour will lease the Oatlands church for up to five years and retain the parish funds it currently has on hand. A portion of those funds will be used for maintenance and needed repairs. At Our Saviour's request, the church will keep some treasured memorial items, including a flag from the Iraq War and an organ.
Additionally, Our Saviour agreed to disaffiliate itself from any connection to the three Anglican church bodies and that no bishop would visit the congregation without the permission of the Bishop of Virginia.
More here-
http://www.leesburg2day.com/articles/2011/02/21/news/9275church022111.txt
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