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Dispute over support for gay Bishop worsens

by
02 November 2006

THE Bishop of Connecticut, the Rt Revd Andrew Smith, has inhibited the Rector of St John’s, Bristol, the Revd Mark Hansen, from ministering in the diocese for the next six months, in the latest developments in the “Connecticut Six” dispute.

The dispute began with Bishop Smith’s support of the consecration of the Bishop of New Hampshire, the Rt Revd Gene Robinson, in 2003. The

The six asked to be released from their ordination vows of obedience to the Bishop, and for suspension
of selected canons, and withdrew their parish share.

They refused the terms of the offer of Delegated Episcopal Pastoral Oversight approved by ECUSA’s House of Bishops last year, asking that the delegated rather than the diocesan bishop take responsibility for the future succession of clergy and future candidates for ordination in the diocese.

In March, the diocese determined that the six rectors had “abandoned communion” and recommended the inhibition of all six priests — the first step towards unfrocking. A meeting between Bishop Smith and the six in April reached an impasse, but the recommendation was not carried out (News, 22 April).

Mr Hansen has been on sabbatical leave since 10 April, having declared to his parishioners on 15 March that the day would be “my last Sunday as your priest”. Bishop Smith has declared his absence unauthorised.

The St John’s Church Vestry accused the Bishop on Sunday of violating canon, civil, and criminal law, and refused to accept the ministry as priest-in-charge of the Revd Susan McCone, the executive director of Affirming Catholicism.

Mr Hansen declared himself “personally devastated” by Bishop Smith’s action in inhibiting him on the grounds of abandonment of communion, and accused him of misrepresenting the facts. “The Bishop is fully aware that family circumstances necessitated a sabbatical leave. . . [He] has knowingly and wilfully endangered my family’s well-being and security,” he said.

The conservative American Anglican Council said it was outraged at the Bishop’s “punitive” actions in seizing church property, and urged the Anglican Communion’s recently appointed Panel of Reference to intercede without delay to avoid the “imminent threat of unilateral, hostile takeovers and dubious inhibitions”.

The five other churches will not allow the Bishop to preach or to preside.

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