Either way, the moment is historic because the panel has picked up only four or five cases since its 2005 creation, said the Rev. Neil Lebhar, Redeemer's rector. The Jacksonville diocese sued Lebhar and the lay leadership at Redeemer in Duval County to remove them from their Southside Boulevard property.

Howard took the action after Redeemer quit his diocese and joined an Anglican diocese in Africa. Like all or parts of 10 other parishes and missions in the North Florida diocese, Redeemer left the Episcopal Church USA because the denomination elected an openly gay bishop in New Hampshire in 2003.

The church and its lawyers contend the congregation has the right to remain on the property because they paid to purchase, expand and maintain it for decades. Howard counters that the diocese possesses the deed and that Episcopal church law clearly states that the hierarchy, not congregations, own parish properties.

Redeemer contends the hierarchy to which it ultimately belongs is the Anglican Communion, an international fellowship of national churches symbolically led by the archbishop of Canterbury in England.

The parish appealed to the communion's Panel of Reference in April asking that it mediate its dispute with Howard over its wish to be overseen by another bishop.

The panel does not resolve legal disputes such as Howard's lawsuit against the parish. Nor does it have any power to order the bishop to take certain actions.

Nor will it, according to the Anglican Communion Web site, involve itself in any case where litigation is ongoing. In its letter to Lebhar, the archbishop's chief of staff requested that there be a stay on civil and ecclesiastical proceedings during the time the panel consider's Redeemer's case.

Lebhar said he is optimistic the diocese may suspend its lawsuit. "There are some signs that it's being considered," he said.

jeff.brumleyjacksonville.com, (904) 359-4310