Posted on 04/16/2005 7:37:20 AM PDT by sionnsar
A Statement from Six Episcopal Clergy in Connecticut
April 15, 2005
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Cynthia P. Brust
202-412-8721
A Statement from Six Episcopal Clergy in Connecticut
We have read a statement issued by Bishop Andrew Smith on April 15, 2005 in which he announces he will not take action of inhibition today. We reiterate that we do not understand how we have in any way “abandoned the communion of this church” nor have we been privy to the process and evidence by which the Standing Committee has determined such a charge.
We have previously attempted to meet with Bishop Smith on several occasions to discuss this matter. We note the offer to meet with the six of us and taking into account the very short notice will respond to the Bishop to determine when and how this meeting might take place.
The Rev. Allyn Benedict, Christ Church, Watertown
The Rev. Ronald S. Gauss, Bishop Seabury, Groton
The Rev. Mark Hansen, St. John’s, Bristol
The Rev. Donald Helmandollar, Trinity, Bristol
The Rev. Christopher Leighton, St. Paul’s, Darien
The Rev. Gil Wilkes, Christ and the Epiphany, East Haven
“This is an interesting move by Bishop Smith. But note what he has not done, as requested by the vestries of all six parishes.
1) He is still insisting that the six priests have abandoned communion. He has not provided any documents or reports on which he and the standing Committee acted.
2) He has not responded to the parishes’ request to resort to the Panel of Reference.
3) He is again trying to make this a private matter between himself and the clergy. The letters from the vestry requested a meeting between the clergy, the bishops, the parishes, their legal advisor, and the bishop’s Chancellor. In the words of that letter: “The goal of that meeting would be to affect adequate delegated Episcopal pastoral oversight by immediate resort to the Panel of Reference.”
The bishop may have blinked, but he is still making no concessions.”
From the comments section below in case you had not seen it.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.
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