Posted on 10/20/2005 3:19:10 PM PDT by sionnsar
I bet they get a chapter of Via Schmedia real soon, since the “new” vestry of Bishop Smith’s sock puppets have resolved to leave the American Anglican Council and the Anglican Communion Network. From the Bristol Press:
The new vestry at St. John’s was elected at a special parish meeting held Sunday. On Monday the group, which is the lay leadership of the parish, unanimously voted to withdraw from the American Anglican Council and the Anglican Communion Network, according to a press release issued Tuesday. The two groups also have opposed consecration of Robinson.
The old vestry included church members loyal to the former rector, the Rev. Mark Hansen, who was removed in July by Smith. Hansen is one of the priests who have become known as the Connecticut Six. This group includes the Rev. Donald L. Helmandollar of Trinity Church in Bristol.
The pro-Hansen members had formed a group called “St. John’s in Exile,” according to the press release.
Consequently, the church had been left without any official lay leadership, said the Rev. Linda McCone, appointed in July by the bishop as priest in charge for the parish. McCone said Tuesday that the parishioners had waited to elect the new vestry until all legal requirements such as the notification period were met.
The breakaway group had sued the bishop, McCone and others, alleging among other things that Hansen’s removal was unauthorized.
“I don’t see how they can do that ..they aren’t who they say they are,” said Darlene Dopart, one of several parish members quoted in the press release. “I don’t see how the court will let them get away with it. We are St. John’s and we don’t want to sue anyone,” she said.
The new vestry said it was making its public statement “because the overwhelming sense of the congregation was that it was important for it to be clear that any other group of persons or individuals — other than those elected by the people of St. John’s at the Sunday meeting — is not authorized to speak on behalf of the parish, enter into contracts in the name of the parish or otherwise suggest that they represent the interests or wishes of the more than 100 parishioners who have been regularly attending services at St. John’s since July.”
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. Please don't be discouraged by the lack of responses. I, for one, check the Religion forum daily looking specifically for your informative threads.
Thank you. My ability to keep up with things will be severely impacted by travel over the next two and half weeks. One hopes the volunteers can pick up the slack.
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