The transfer of the Bishop's Palace in Kilkenny to the Heritage Council is still in doubt despite the Church of Ireland representative body's decision to sanction the deal.
The Representative Church Body's legal and advisory committee is meeting in the second week of July to examine the decision.
Meanwhile, a special synod of the Cashel and Ossory diocese has been called for tomorrow night in Kilkenny to discuss the issue.
Cashel and Ossory diocesan council voted in favour of the decision while Ferns diocesan council voted against.
Those opposed to the transfer believe that the RCB had no right to sanction the transfer when the Ferns diocesan council had voted against it.
"We believe that we have been press-ganged into this," said one Ferns diocesan council member.
"We were told explicitly before the vote that it must be approved by both councils. Yet the RCB has decided to go ahead with it, even though Ferns voted against it."
Those in favour of the proposal believe the church cannot afford to maintain such a vast property and argue that the Heritage Council would safeguard the building's future.
The bishop at the centre of the debate is in favour of the move.
Dr John Neill, the Bishop of Ossory, said that, as bishop of the diocese, he would live in whatever house was provided for him.
"I'm not agitating to change but I think that the dioceses have made a wise decision," he said.
He added that there would always be a great sadness at seeing such a historic building being transferred, but it was a vast property and was difficult to maintain.
"The Heritage Council, as part of the State, would have much greater resources to care for the building," he said.
Dr Neill abstained from both the diocesan and RCB votes on the issue.
He said he believed that all the correct procedures had been followed in this case.
The Heritage Council agrees that the deal is not yet complete. Mr Michael Starrett, the council's chief executive, said there was a long way to go before the building was transferred to its ownership.
He said that issues such as price had yet to be negotiated. "But I'm pleased at the RCB's decision," Mr Starrett said.
