The priest of the parish is the Rev. Ron Gauss, a converted Jew. This parish along with six other congregations has been on the outs with Smith going back to 2005 when they wrote and informed Smith that while he would be welcome in their parishes it would be inappropriate for him to preach or to preside at the Eucharist.

Gauss wrote to VOL saying that that this was not necessarily good news from Connecticut, rather only news. "In conversation with the Bishop Smith he said he would only give permission for Bishop Scriven to come to Connecticut if I allowed him to meet with the Parish then with the Vestry before the Parish Meeting, then to be allowed his legal Canonical visitation. I told the Bishop that we have never refused his visitation, however I could not assure him of who would receive communion from him. After I agreed to his requests, he gave permission for Bishop Scriven to come and conduct the ordination. It was accommodation not reconciliation."

The clergy and parishes, known as the "Connecticut Six", have been at odds with their bishop for the past two years following his abandonment of Anglican Church teachings. Citing Bishop Smith's repeated public attacks against them, the churches stated that he has created an "atmosphere of hostility and mistrust" that makes the sanctity and dignity of a shared Eucharist impossible.

Recently Smith was cleared of presentment charges brought by the "Ct. Six". He also triumphed in a lawsuit that was dismissed against him.

Bishop Scriven, in a phone call to VOL from Mombasa where he is attending a meeting of the Kenyan House of Bishops, said he was delighted with the generosity of Bishop Smith, and that he was happy to work with the Rev. Bill Hesse in the furtherance of the gospel and in the mission of the church. "I am happy for Bill and for his ministry in the life of the diocese."

In 2005 the Rev. Mark Hansen became the first fall guy of orthodox priests in the diocese, when Smith seized his parish, St. John's, Bristol. Hansen was then inhibited and deposed. The other five parishes have stayed largely below the radar screen preferring negotiation with Smith rather than confrontation.

"I want you to know that the ordination will be celebrated with my permission," Bishop Smith stated in an April 20 letter sent to clergy of the diocese. "As I have in two other recent Connecticut ordinations by a visiting bishop, I intend to participate and will share in the ordaining.

"As with every ordination in the diocese, I encourage our clergy to be present, and to hold Bill Hesse in your prayers as he approaches May 12," he wrote in a letter posted at the diocesan website.

Deacon Hesse, whose canonical residence remains with the Diocese of Pittsburgh, graduated from Trinity School for Ministry, Ambridge, Pa., last June without an offer of employment from a parish. The Diocese of Pittsburgh has a policy under which seminary graduates cannot be ordained to the transitional Deaconate until they have first obtained a parish appointment.

Last fall, Deacon Hesse began worshiping as a layperson at Bishop Seabury and after learning about his seminary degree, Fr. Gauss encouraged Deacon Hesse to help with hospital visitations and other lay ministerial functions. Some months later, the parish extended an offer of employment to Deacon Hesse and after that he was ordained to the transitional diaconate. In order to be ordained to the priesthood, Deacon Hesse needed the permission of Bishop Smith and a license to officiate in the Diocese of Connecticut.

END

Here is Bishop Smith's Letter

The Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut

April 20, 2007

To the Clergy of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut:

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

I am writing to you in advance of your receiving an invitation to the Ordination to the Priesthood of the Rev. Bill Hesse, in Bishop Seabury Church, Groton, on Saturday, May 12, by the Rt. Rev. Henry Scriven, who will be acting for the Bishop of Pittsburgh.

First, I want you to know that the ordination will be celebrated with my permission. As I have in two other recent Connecticut ordinations by a visiting bishop, I intend to participate and will share in the ordaining.

Also, on Trinity Sunday, June 3, I will make a canonical Episcopal Visitation in Bishop Seabury Church. I will preside and preach as Bishop of the Diocese at the regular services of the parish that morning.

To prepare for these events, members of the Vestry and I will meet on Tuesday evening, April 24. On Thursday evening of the next week, May 2, all members of Bishop Seabury Church have been invited to an open meeting with me. Our time together will include worship and discussion modeled on the two conversations I have had with the members of the Church of Christ and the Epiphany, East Haven.

I am very grateful to the Youth Group of Saint Peter's Church, Hebron, and to the parish of Christ Church,Tashua, for changing commitments we had made, in order to make these arrangements possible.

As with every ordination in the Diocese, I encourage our clergy to be present, and to hold Bill Hesse in your prayers as he approaches May 12.

These plans have come together over these past weeks in an atmosphere of hope and respect. I am deeply heartened and grateful for the talks I have had with Father Gauss and Deacon Hesse as we have prepared for the four events. May the grace of Christ continue to flow abundantly. I ask you to hold our whole diocese in your prayers as we enter and explore a new day.

Yours in Christ,

The Right Reverend Andrew D. Smith
The Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut