Fallbrook church tentatively backed
By Sandi Dolbee
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
November 9, 2006

A lawsuit aimed at putting Episcopalians back in control of a Fallbrook church appeared headed for defeat yesterday, and another priest has left the San Diego diocese in a widening national rift led by conservatives.

A Superior Court judge in Vista issued a tentative ruling that would allow St. John's Anglican Church to remain in the Fallbrook property.

The church was an Episcopal congregation until a majority of members voted in July to break away from the denomination but keep the property and be overseen by an Anglican bishop in Africa.

The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego and St. John's members who didn't want to break away are suing to get possession of the building. They argue that the former officers lost their authority when they voted to leave the denomination. the rest