By the time St. Peter’s voted in March 2007, facts had changed drastically. The diocese already had threatened to sue the leave-takers. It already canceled – with very little notice – the health plans of the clergy involved, making the ministers scramble to find other coverage.<\/p>\n
The bank account of one of the departing – St. Stephen’s in Heathsville, Va. – had been frozen by its bank because two groups were laying claim to the assets. This made it impossible for the majority who left – and who had hung onto the property – to pay anything from utility bills to salaries.<\/p>\n
Plus, the diocese held the deed to St. Peter’s property. So the folks at St. Peter’s voted to stay. Their vicar, Bob Koth, wanted out.<\/p>\n
“I respected the congregation’s wishes,” he told me. “I struggled with the decision to stay in the Episcopal Church. As things dragged out, we were late in taking that vote.”<\/p>\n