At the recent Florida convention in January, leaders empowered parishes to decide individually whether to donate to the national church in 2004. Parishes traditionally give 10 percent of their income to the national church.

Pascoe, who has been at Grace for nearly 19 years, said it's embarrassing to be an Episcopalian and he admits he strongly considered taking a job at an out-of-state Presbyterian church.

"I hate controversy. I was ready to bail. This is a very painful and difficult time for me," said Pascoe. "The Episcopal Church has taken a deep step into heresy."

Pascoe said his 1,380-member church needs to expand its facilities, but in the Episcopalian tradition, anything the church builds the denomination will own, so he's holding off for now.

"It's hard to get pumped about a $5 million sanctuary expansion," Pascoe said. "It's hard to raise money right now."

St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Fleming Island also is withholding funds from the national church but the church is forging ahead with plans to build a new sanctuary. Groundbreaking is slated for April.

"The gospel calls us to spread the word, not to remain stagnant," said the rector, the Rev. Ken Hartsog. "We need to make more room. All of our services are maxed out. We're growing like crazy."

The Rev. Hall Hunt at Church of the Good Samaritan said he and his church leaders have not yet officially decided what to do.

"We're struggling with how to express that dissatisfaction. We're hurt and even alarmed," he said. "We consider ourselves no better than homosexuals. We are all sinners but we are all called to repent of our sins and to struggle against whatever sin we have in our lives."

Hunt said he's inclined to redirect the parish's funds earmarked for the national church toward Anglican missions in Africa, Asia and South America.

END