Locally, members of the Trinity Anglican Church in Rock Island celebrated the decision.

According to the Rev. Thomas Janikowski, the rector of that church and the director of public relations for the Diocese of Quincy of the Anglican Church in North America, the suit centered on the western Illinois diocese's November 2008 decision to end its affiliation with the Episcopal Church. Janikowski said that was due to theological differences centering on the person of Jesus Christ and the fundamental authority of holy scripture.

"I hope this takes one distraction away from us," he said, adding that some members worried that if they lost the case, the congregation would have to move from its church at 1818 6th Ave., which was built in the 19th century.

Patricia Renfo, a third-generation member of the Rock Island parish, said she is overjoyed.

"It is such a relief to stop worrying about whether we'll lose the church my parents and grandparents helped to build," she added.

The appellate court unanimously upheld a September decision in Adams County Circuit Court favoring the Anglican diocese.

In a prepared statement posted Friday afternoon on the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago website, the church said it is disappointed in what it believes to be an erroneous decision favoring "a breakaway group" and said its attorneys are studying the possibility of an appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court.

The Episcopal and Anglican churches parted ways almost six years ago. Differences centered on moderate and liberal theological views against those of a more conservative nature.

For example, the Episcopal Church in America agreed to the ordination of women in the 1970s and to gay clergy in 2003.

More conservative areas of the church broke off after votes taken late in 2008. The split was followed by litigation, mostly over property formerly held by the Episcopal Church.

The case ruled upon Thursday, for example, concerned $3.5 million in funds held by National City Bank and frozen by the Episcopalian Church after the disassociation.

"They froze our endowment," Janikowski said, adding that money is not that much of an issue. "We can provide for ourselves quite well."

The Anglican Church currently has no relationship with the area's Episcopal churches, he said. "We do pray for them."

The Rock Island congregation has about 100 families as members and maintains relationships with refugees from Africa and Myanmar, commonly known as Burma.

In the statement on its website, the Chicago Episcopal Diocese said its position "is that individual parishes and dioceses hold their property in trust for the wider church, and that those who cease to be members of the Episcopal Church may not take the property with them. This position has been upheld in most similar cases decided throughout the country.

“We are disappointed by the decision of the Court and believe that the decision is erroneous,” said Richard Hoskins, chancellor emeritus of the diocese. “We believe that the opinion misunderstands the policy of the Episcopal Church and misapplies the First Amendment. The attorneys representing us in the lawsuit are studying the opinion and will advise the Diocese whether to petition for leave to appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court."

“We will respond to this decision in the appropriate legal manner,” said the Right Rev. Jeffrey D. Lee, bishop of the Chicago Diocese. “While that process unfolds, our primary mission will continue to be fulfilling God’s vision for the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago and its newest deanery in Peoria.”

END