By Jason DeRose, IL Public Radio
Chicago, Ill. – The Episcopal Church says it's monitoring several downstate Illinois dioceses it considers "problematic" because of disputes over church property.
Congregations in the Episcopal Dioceses of Quincy, Ill. and Springfield, Ill. have distanced themselves from the national denomination over issues of sexuality.
Church leaders there believe the election of an openly gay bishop three years ago was wrong. Now, some conservative parishes have split from the church and want to take church buildings and clergy housing with them.
But technically, the property belongs not to the individual congregations but rather the diocese as a whole.
Church leaders are trying to prepare for any legal fights over the properties. The denomination's national executive council is creating a list of experts and legal advisors dioceses can use if congregations in Springfield, Quincy and elsewhere in the U.S. try to lay claim to buildings they don't own.