FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Cynthia P. Brust
202-412-8721

A Statement from Five Connecticut Episcopal Churches Decrying Actions of the Bishop of Connecticut

We are extremely sympathetic to Father Mark Hansen, a godly and committed priest who is experiencing outrageous abuse at the hands of Bishop Andrew Smith. Father Hansen has sought to serve St. John's and protect the interests of a congregation at odds with Bishop Smith regarding theological and doctrinal issues. Bishop Smith's inhibition of Father Hansen is unconscionable and represents a personal attack devoid of pastoral concern for the Hansen family or the parishioners of St. John's.

In addition, we are appalled that Bishop Smith has ignored the authority of the duly elected leadership of St. John's by seizing, without warning, the church property, disregarding the expressed will of those present and violating the cherished church home of faithful members of St. John's. In the name of "pastoral concern" he has treated St. John's as though it were a crime scene. We note, without qualification, that the church has faithfully fulfilled the expectations of canon law by providing for consistent and ongoing pastoral leadership for the congregation during Father Hansen's sabbatical.

We believe this is one more example of Bishop Smith's apparent intention to systematically destroy, one by one, the six parishes that have requested adequate episcopal oversight. This crisis is one that extends far beyond Connecticut. It is a crisis for the Episcopal Church and for the entire Anglican Communion. We believe this situation requires immediate and bold intervention on the part of the Panel of Reference established by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and we call upon the Panel to act swiftly and decisively to the relief of St. John's specifically and the "Connecticut Six" generally.

The Rev. Allyn Benedict, Christ Church, Watertown
The Rev. Ronald S. Gauss, Bishop Seabury, Groton
The Rev. Donald Helmandollar, Trinity, Bristol
The Rev. Christopher Leighton, St. Paul's, Darien
The Rev. Gil Wilkes, Christ and the Epiphany, East Haven

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Date Created: 7/14/2005