Posted on 08/15/2005 4:49:42 PM PDT by sionnsar
(AgapePress) - A spokesman for an Episcopal church in Connecticut that was forcibly seized by its liberal bishop because of its opposition to homosexuality says members of the congregation want their building and property back.
Connecticut Bishop Andrew Smith recently made an unannounced visit to St. John's Episcopal Church in Bristol and suspended its orthodox priest, replacing him with a pro-homosexuality female priest. With the help of 12 assistants, Bishop Smith dismantled the church's website, hacked into its computers, and gained access to financial records.
Dr. William Witt, a spokesman for the vestry, says members of St. John's are doing the best they can to stick together as a parish.
"The vestry and the parishioners have basically been locked out of the building [and] our bank account has been frozen -- so that makes it a little bit difficult," Witt explains. "But ... we have been worshipping with another Episcopal church on Sunday mornings -- Trinity Episcopal Church, also in Bristow, another one of the 'Connecticut Six' parishes."
A group of orthodox Episcopal bishops has threatened to take Smith to ecclesiastical court over his conduct towards St. John's and five other dissenting Anglican parishes in Connecticut. But Witt says members of St. John's simply want Smith to let them run the affairs of their parish as they have always done.
"I think we'd like him to rethink his actions," he states. "[W]e're simply trying to be faithful to historic Christianity, and especially to the authority of Scripture -- that's what holds us together."
Witt says he believes the bishop is on a "power trip" and determined to crush any opposition in sight.
Further, in general, Bishops don't care much about what is taught in their dioceses or how folks worship. But they are all over their title to the real estate and bank accounts. Oaths sworn to follow the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Episcopal Church are intrinsically meaningless -- except insofar as they touch on who owns the property.
And that, folks, is where it's at
Who, me? Bitter?
What this congregation needs is a really good lawyer and they should sue this bishop's butt off. Seizing their financial records and hacking into their computer stinks.
All I can say is I'm glad you put the "in general" there because I know personally know, love and respect one exception (even though we're on opposite ends of the, um, traditional Anglican spectrum) and I believe there are more like him.
But then again, I left ECUSA for a Continuing church over two decades ago, and I'm not going back unless my church goes back. (And I say this without any disparagement to the faithful still in ECUSA; there are all sorts of reasons for staying, or departing.)
What has happened to tolerance? Our society does not know the real meaning of this word.It means to put up with something that is undesirable. Need I say more!
The Anglican Church cannot help but to fall apart. It was founded by King Henry VI, who was an infidel and needed a new church so he could marry again. He was the seed of the Reformation. There a lots of good people in the church but they are needing to look elsewhere for leadership. The Devil is destroying it from within and without.
Is he related to Sheik Rattlroll or to Sheik N-notstird (the Brit Sheik)? :o)
Bitter? Yep, I sympathize with you.
Brothers...please come home...we await you on the other side of the Tiber.
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