Breakaway Anglicans are claiming that Virginia's top Episcopal bishop has no authority to remove from the priesthood 21 clergy who have already "quit" The Episcopal Church.

The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, publicly announced on Thursday that he would depose clergy who were barred in January from performing priestly duties in the diocese.

The clergy, however, have already quit, noted Jim Oakes, vice chairman of the Anglican District of Virginia (ADV) - an association of conservative Anglican congregations.

"This announcement from the Diocese of Virginia is like an employer trying to fire someone who has already quit," Oakes said in a released statement.

The Rev. Jack Grubbs, rector of Potomac Falls Church and one of the clergy who has been deposed, argued that he and the others remain as Anglican clergy no longer in the service of The Episcopal Church, so the church cannot depose or remove them from their pulpits.

Congregations from 15 churches voted overwhelmingly in December to sever ties with The Episcopal Church, citing the denomination's departure from Anglican tradition and Christian orthodoxy. They essentially removed themselves from the Episcopal ministry and placed themselves under the authority of the Church of Nigeria.

Although the breakaway clergy were "inhibited" from the Episcopal priesthood, they have continued to perform their same roles within the worldwide Anglican Communion.

"Our clergy have remained steadfast in their faith, and have fully embarked on their journey with the worldwide Anglican Communion by joining ADV and the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (an offshoot of the Church of Nigeria). We should remember the unanimous message that the Archbishops of the worldwide Anglican Communion made at their February meeting in Tanzania clearly expressing that it is The Episcopal Church that is out of step not only with us, but with the majority of Anglicans around the globe."

Of the clergy Lee inhibited early this year, one - the Rev. Nicholas Lubelfeld - returned to The Episcopal Church and had his inhibition lifted. He now serves as priest associate of Church of Our Redeemer in Aldie, Va.

This week's announcement of the removal of the rest of the clergy comes amid heated debate as the breakaway Virginia congregations and the Diocese of Virginia battle for church properties in court. Most recently, The Episcopal Church filed a motion to add 76 more unpaid church volunteers to the lawsuit and anyone else in the future.

"In spite of these continued acts of intimidation, ADV churches continue to move forward serving Christ by proclaiming His gospel, supporting and strengthening families, and serving communities at home and abroad," said Oakes.

The Anglican District of Virginia claims they are in full communion with constituent members of the worldwide Anglican Communion through its affiliation with the Convocation of Anglicans in North America.