well----1. leaving the constantinian institutional church has nothing to do with my continuing as ''a christian''  and my wish and attempt to live my life in the Lord. sadly, the two have nothing to do with one another. 2.  no, it was not a 'compulsion', it was a 'free choice' which i had been contemplating for a long time.  i thought that i would be losing a lot in losing my parish, and feared 'letting-go.'   .  but….one sunday, our so-called pastor started berating the ACA as his 'homely  contribution.  the church and its reps are always so adverse to not being able to continue to make decisions  relative to the health and protection of a woman's vagina.   . that was enough for me!!! --- my 'first commandment' is the support and protection of the 'separation of church and state.'  his ''homely….directive….political statement'''' allowed me to see the 'bottom of the well''' and leave.   not regretted it for one single minute.