Virginia Anglican Controversy: Who is Guilty of Abandonment?
By Lillian Kwon
Christian Post Reporter
Tue, Jan. 23 2007

Breakaway Anglican congregations in Virginia were deemed "abandoned" by the Episcopal diocese in a push toward recovering church property. But one Christian leader asks, who has done the abandoning here?"

It must not be forgotten that many faithful and even lifelong Episcopalians voted for the parishes’ departures," said Ralph Webb, Anglican Action Director for the Institute on Religion and Democracy. "They did this out of a strong conviction that the Episcopal Church has abandoned the Anglican Communion.

"Nine congregations, including two megachurches, overwhelmingly voted to leave the Episcopal Church in December because of the church's departure from Scriptural authority. The congregations joined the U.S. outreach arm of the Anglican Church of Nigeria called the Convocation of Anglicans in North America.

Both the breakaway Anglicans and the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia had agreed to avoid litigation over church property, but before the 30-day standstill expired, the diocese called off negotiations believing they would become cumbersome and alienate Episcopalians who remained, Virginia Bishop Peter Lee said. The churches were then declared "abandoned" as the diocese decided to take steps to court to recover and secure the property. the rest