In the 1820's an event occurred which caused some disruption in the New Church community. Thomas Worcester was a minister in Boston who dreamed up a relatively new idea concerning the relationship between a pastor and his society. He called this theory "The Pastoral Relationship." His opponents dubbed it "The Conjugial Heresy."
Summed up, this theory stated that the relationship between a pastor and a society was similar to that between husband and wife. His reasoning for this was based on The Lord often than being referred to as the bride-groom, and a minister to certain degree represents Him. The society, or the church, represents the bride. It followed from this that the if a minister were to preach at a society besides his own, this would amount to spiritual adultery. Likewise, if a member of a congregation were to listen to another priests sermon, or worse, be given holy supper it would be a sin.
This whole idea was, of course, not too well received. It has been speculated that Worcester's motive for proposing such a teaching was fear of being rejected by society. If his theory had been accepted, the ejection of a minister would amount to divorce.
Finely, Worcester was forced to recant. Despite this, to the end of his days he proclaimed that he was in the right. He also began to follow the belief that the Writings were not divine inspired, but only there for instruction.