Is this the way the Church should handle disputes???

Frank Lockwood at the Lexington Herald-Leader has a story about how the Episcopal Church deals with Churches and Pastors (called Rector's) who hold a differing view on active homosexuals in Church leadership then the Bishop.

In short, the liberal bishop dismissed the conservative church board and downgraded the status of the Parish to Mission so the bishop would have direct control over the church. The bishop says he was afraid of the conservatives in leadership and the Rector would leave the denomination and take the church property and bank accounts with them. The dismissed leaders denies this and said at most they wanted to be under the authority of a conservative bishop rather then the current one.

The end result, the congregation of 150 has split, the Rector and leadership have formed a new independent church and 50% or more of the congregation has followed.