Last December, the vestry of Church of the Resurrection in West Chicago voted to seek disassociation from the Episcopal Church and Diocese of Chicago over differences with the Episcopal Church's stand on the participation of gays and lesbians in the life of the church, and the 2006 General Convention response to the recommendations of the Windsor Report.

A series of letters followed between Resurrection's rector and the bishop and diocesan Standing Committee, culminating in a February 1 meeting at the parish between Resurrection's leaders, Bishop William Persell and Standing Committee president Michael Perillo. At the bishop's request the vestry arranged a congregational meeting for members to discuss and vote on whether to stay or separate. Over the March 17 and 25 Sundays, the congregation considered the options and everyone present voted for separation.

On July 21, the departing members and leaders celebrated their final Eucharist at Church of the Resurrection, and shortly thereafter Resurrection's rector, the Rev. George Koch, renounced his orders as a priest of the Episcopal Church. They then cleared out their personal belongings, conducted a thorough cleaning, and presented the building keys and documents to diocesan officials.

Sunday, September 9, saw the departing members worship one last time at the church and then process about a quarter of a mile down the street to their new worship space, now Resurrection Anglican Church. Over the next three years they plan to raise money to build a new church facility on a 13-acre property they are purchasing.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Koch, in his sermon, called the split "a gentle leaving." He said the congregation modeled their faith by handling the situation with prayer instead of strife.

The Rev. Scott Hayashi, a diocesan representative, read a letter from Persell, who thanked the congregation for carrying out its decision "with grace and integrity," the newspaper reported,

"We will continue to hold you in our prayers," the letter said.

As the worshippers processed, a guitarist strummed, while others yelled Nigerian warrior cries.

In an earlier letter to Koch, Persell expressed his sorrow over their plans for separation along with gratitude for making the transition as grace-filled as possible.

"Thank you for the honorable, thoughtful and prayerful way you are dealing with this sad division," wrote Persell. "You are in our prayers as you move into a new future. We will miss you. And, please know that the doors of the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Chicago will always remain open for you and for any others who might choose to return."

The diocese is open to restarting a congregation in the Resurrection buildings. In 1993, 400 members left the Episcopal Church with then rector the Rev. William Beasley and his wife, Anne, a deacon, over similar issues involving the ordination and acceptance of gays and lesbians in the diocese and Episcopal Church. Their departure left a remnant congregation of a dozen people, most of whom predated the Beasleys' arrival at Resurrection in 1987.

The Beasleys went on to found Church of the Resurrection in Illinois in Carol Stream, and Chicago's bishop at the time, Frank Griswold, supported the remaining members in their call to Koch to serve as rector.