"Everyone is welcome to participate in our common life regardless of their vote on this or any matter," Minns said. "If someone tells you that they voted against the resolution (to sever ties), then I encourage you assure them that they are loved and included as full members of the family of God in this place."

But a series of meetings held this month may be paving the road for a reconciliation.

Beckwith, who could not be reached for comment, met with the Rev. Virginia Bennett, pastor of St. Andrew's, and six Vestry members Dec. 6 in Springfield. Five days later, he reinstated the licenses after meeting with most of the lay ministers.

On Sunday, they gathered for their first morning worship service. The Rev. Martin Gornik, pastor of Apostles, says churchgoers contributed $1.5 million in cash and pledges in about six weeks to make the purchase possible.

"I think it's a testament that this congregation's courage and hope had not been crushed by what had happened," Gornik said. "There's a great deal of excitement and enthusiasm."

Many denominations have clauses declaring that property owned by congregations is held in trust for the denomination: A church is free to leave, but not with its property. For many years, most courts routinely deferred to denominational law in property disputes-especially in cases involving "hierarchical" denominations with structured top-down government, including TEC, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (PCUSA), and the United Methodist Church (UMC).