Turns out you can't take it with you...

And yet.... I wonder if state laws have changed in the intervening years here in California. In the late 70s DH's family's church had a split. The rector didn't like the idea of women priests or accepting homosexuals as full members (no mention of clergy at that time), which the national Episcopal church voted in. So, the rector got the Vestry to vote for secession. Half the congregation, while not all agreeing with the national church's decision, did not want to leave the national Episcopal church, but seek for change within. The congregation was split pretty evenly, many on both sides still living and family members, too, who had contributed large sums of money to building projects, special stained glass windows, needlepoint kneelers, and so forth. So they went to secular court. And guess what? In that case, the judge awarded the property to the group who wanted to secede! :O So the group wanting to stay within the national church, lost the property, their history in that building, their contributions, etc. After years of using public school buildings for church services, having temporary clegy from the diocese, and fund raising, they finally built their own brand new church, church hall and labyrinth. They are now well established and holding strong as members of the national church. So, the diocese at that time was not legally seen by the judge, as the ultimate owner of the property, and the membership wanting to take the church out of the national church, were considered the "owners." And they lost the property eventually. The old rector retired to AZ and the church went downhill. The property was sold to a different church, and has changed hands numerous times over the intervening years, never an Episcopal church again. Guess the rules of law have change because back in late 70s, they could take it with them, and did, in the case of my DH's family's church. Too bad this ruling wasn't in effect then... Families and long time friendships were torn apart over this fight over property, and never healed. :((