Conservatives in the Episcopal Church USA say a theological dispute is becoming personal. Connecticut Bishop Andrew D. Smith removed a Hartford priest from St. John's Church on July 14, changed the locks, appointed Susan McCone, executive director of the pro-gay Affirming Anglican Catholicism group as interim priest, and shut down the church website.
The priest, Mark Hansen, is one of a group of six orthodox leaders whose dissent began after Smith supported the 2003 ordination of a practicing homosexual, Gene Robinson, as bishop of New Hampshire.
The congregations served by these six clergy have stopped sending financial support to the diocese and have sought alternative oversight. They accuse Smith of violating his ordination vows, departing from traditional Anglican teaching, and abandoning scriptural authority and biblical norms.
The bishop charged the "Connecticut Six" with "abandoning the communion of the church." Smith has threatened to remove the rest of them.
But Smith told CT that his actions at St. John's were "neither theological nor personal." Abandoning communion is cause for dismissal, but Smith is hoping for reconciliation. He said Hansen had taken an unauthorized sabbatical and stopped paying back the diocese loan, of which $77,000 remains outstanding, for the St. John's building.
Hansen has said publicly that he discussed his sabbatical arrangements with an assistant bishop, and sent Smith a letter in March about it.
Don Helmandollar of Trinity Church in Bristol and one of the "Connecticut Six" told CT that the basis for the conflict is theological.
"Our biggest heartache with this whole thing is the misuse of Scripture," he said.
CT earlier covered the priests when they faced possible suspension for abandoning communion.
The American Anglican Council has a statement calling the move "unconscionable," as do the five other priests.
News elsewhere includes:
'Connecticut Six' Rector Formally Denies Charges | The rector of an Episcopal church in Connecticut, who was temporarily stripped of his ministerial credentials for opposing the oversight of his local bishop, issued a ''good faith denial'' of the charges that resulted in his inhibition. (Christian Post, Aug. 5, 2005)
Out-of-state Bishops Threaten Action | Connecticut's Episcopal leader says letter from 9 clergymen 'filled with assumptions' (The Day, New London, Conn., July 29, 2005)
Bishops plan to take Connecticut cleric to church court | Nine conservative Episcopal bishops said Thursday that they will take Connecticut's bishop to religious court over his suspension of one priest and threat to remove five others. (Associated Press, July 28, 2005)
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