Via Mirror of Justice I learn that the breakaway Episcopal churches in Virginia have won in the trial court. Summary here and here and here.

There are some obvious implications of the judge's ruling for many mainline Protestant churches. I've followed the case in passing simply because I reside in Falls Church, Virginia, which is named after the Falls Church that is one of the lead breakaway churches so it has been a major local issue for some time. (In light of the contentiousness of the issues that underlie the division in the case, let's please keep comments civil and focused on the legal merits and ramifications of the ruling and not get into the social issues that underlie it.)