A Statement from the American Anglican Council Condemning Seizure of St. John’s Church, Bristol by Bishop of Connecticut

http://www.americananglican.org/site/c.ikLUK3MJIpG/b.691897/apps/nl/content2.asp?content_id={30431B97-9B1C-4DBF-94F6-9843EC47BD49}&notoc=1

[American Anglican Council] July 14, 2005--Yesterday, the Rt. Rev. Andrew Smith, Bishop of Connecticut, issued an inhibition against the Rev. Mark Hansen, rector of St. John’s, Bristol and seized church property over the protest of the church’s elected lay leadership. We believe there are serious questions regarding the canonical grounds upon which this inhibition was based as well as inconsistencies in the bishop’s explanation of his actions. We are outraged that any bishop would seize control of a church without lengthy consultation with the vestry [elected church board], and to do so in the name of pastoral concern is unconscionable. Bishop Smith has exhibited pastoral disregard for the leaders, members and clergy of St. John’s. He also seems to display a lack of episcopal discretion and appears devoid of prudent counsel with which bishops are expected to carry out the historic and canonical role to which they are called.