Church faces issue of land in split from Episcopalians
By STEVEN G. VEGH,
The Virginian-Pilot
December 12, 2006

CHESAPEAKE - Every parish that quits the Episcopal Church has to deal with the same question facing breakaway Church of the Messiah in Chesapeake: Who owns the church building and grounds?

Messiah, a 220-member congregation, left the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia this fall, citing "irreconcilable" theological differences with the denomination.

Rob Bruner, a senior parish leader, said the status of Messiah's land and church at 816 Kempsville Road seems clear to members.

'"We believe that we own the property, the building," Bruner said.

But Bishop John C. Buchanan, the diocese's interim bishop, disagreed just as forthrightly. the rest