CONNECTICUT: BISHOP THREATENS CANONICAL INITIATIVES TO ORTHODOX RECTORS

By David W. Virtue | News Analysis

HARTFORD, CT — (7/30/2004) — Four orthodox clergy in the Diocese of Connecticut whose parishes have taken part in a 6-parish joint request for DEPO have appeared before Bishop Andrew Smith in response to a "pastoral directive." Three have been told that "canonical initiatives" will be forthcoming unless some resolution is achieved with respect to their differences with the bishop.

The three who received implied threats from the bishop are the Revds. Christopher Leighton, rector of St. Paul's, Darien; Allyn Benedict, rector of Christ Church, Watertown; and Dr. Mark Hansen, rector of St. John's Church, Bristol.

The Rev. Christopher Leighton met one-on-one with the bishop for 35 minutes and described their talk as "frank." The bishop sees only three possibilities: the churches leave, they stay and accept his form of DEPO, or he takes canonical initiatives against the clergy and their churches.

Fr. Leighton made clear that St. Paul's has no intention of leaving the Diocese or the Episcopal Church. "We're not threatening to leave. We're threatening to stay."

Fr. Allyn Benedict reported that the bishop remained firm about not meeting with the churches together, insisting each church is in relationship with the bishop canonically as a separate unit.

The Rev. Mark Hansen expressed concern over the bishop's "precisely worded invocation of the phrase 'canonical initiatives.'" Hansen said he was not hopeful that anything could ultimately be worked out with the bishop. "Our real hope comes from the Lord," Hansen concluded.

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