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, one of the largest charismatic churches in the Episcopal Church USA, Allyn Benedict, rector of Christ Church, Watertown, and Dr. Mark Hansen, rector of St. John's Church, Bristol.

The rectors of two other parishes taking part in the joint DEPO request are also under potential discipline from the bishop, having received the same pastoral directive from Bishop Smith via certified letter.

The Rev. Christopher Leighton met one-on-one with the bishop for 35 minutes and described their talk as "frank." "He wanted to make sure I understood that the relationship of the six churches to him cannot continue at the 'impasse'. He sees only three possibilities for us. The first is that we will leave. The second is that we will stay, and accept his form of DEPO. And the third is that we do nothing, thinking that nothing will happen, but that he will take canonical initiatives against the clergy and their churches."

Fr. Leighton said he listened and then responded, making clear that St. Paul's had no intention of leaving the Diocese or the Episcopal Church.

Fr. Allyn Benedict of Christ Church Watertown also met with the bishop. "Bishop Smith began by saying that he has heard our process described as an impasse and it must not stay that way. Something's got to give. We can't go on with no relationship at all. He said he wants DEPO to work but he cannot meet our demands within the Constitution and Canons of the Church."

The bishop emphasized that he will not in any way deal with AAC because they have a theological and global agenda.

The Rev. Mark Hansen, the last rector to meet with Bishop Smith, expressed concern over the bishop's "precisely worded invocation of the phrase 'canonical initiatives' in connection with the consequences of a continued failure to resolve the current impasse."

In a phone call to Virtuosity, Hansen said he was not hopeful that anything could ultimately be worked out with the bishop, as "there are too many crucial issues in our joint DEPO request that the bishop simply is not willing to consider for discussion."

"Our real hope comes from the Lord," Hansen concluded. "We are looking forward to what the Lambeth Commission comes up with in October to provide real and lasting assurances that our freedom of conscience to obey scripture will remain intact, not only for us, but for all biblically orthodox parishes in North America. I see no possibility outside of a major realignment."

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