Anglican Communion Network

Six Connecticut parishes “subpoenaed” by bishop

From The Hartford Courant:

In the latest sign of the stresses tearing at a variety of denominations over social issues, six Episcopal parishes are seeking to remove their churches from the control of Bishop Andrew D. Smith, who leads the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut.

The parishes want to become aligned with a bishop outside the state, one who is part of a network of conservative Episcopal churches that have come together in opposition to the consecration last year of the church’s first openly gay bishop.

This week, priests from the six churches — Christ Church in Watertown, St. John’s Church in Bristol, St. Paul’s Church in Darien, Trinity Church in Bristol, Christ & The Epiphany Church in East Haven, and Bishop of Seabury Church in Groton — each received a “pastoral directive” and were summoned by registered letter to meet with Smith.

“At first, I thought I was being subpoenaed. It turned out to be a letter from my bishop commanding that I meet with him,” said the Rev. Christopher Leighton, pastor of St. Paul’s Church in Darien. Leighton said being summoned to a compulsory meeting with Smith was a tactic that added more tension to an increasingly strained relationship.