Smith had said the priests faced removal as early as Friday for failing to meet with him to work out a solution and shirking their financial obligations to the diocese.
But he issued a statement Friday evening saying he wants to meet with the priests Monday before he takes action. Bishop Gordon Paul Scruton of the Diocese of Western Massachusetts would also attend.
Read moreHe described how, during his time in South Wales, arrangements to allow women to work at weekends were opposed by community organisations, who stressed that weekends were a time when families did things together. "There was a deeply unscrupulous element in that particular case of making the family market-friendly."
Read moreWaves of indignations followed the consecration of gay bishop in many episcopical congregations. The Connecticut parishes began withholding their contribution to the diocese which is about 12.5 percent of their revenue.
Read moreAs with the House of Bishops' March 2005 Covenant Statement, the Executive Council has professed compliance to the Primates while dictating their own terms: "In the spirit of the Covenant Statement recently adopted by our House of Bishops, we voluntarily withdraw our members from official participation in the ACC as it meets in Nottingham.
Read moreIn the world of occupations, this is capital punishment. It takes away a priest's job, removes him from the pension fund and insurance, and puts him out on the street. Naturally it will probably lead to more splintering, new churches and a continuing weakening of our communion. What kind of a culture and climate is this creating?
Read moreThe clergy and people of the six parishes now in sustained conflict with you are in full communion with us. They preach and teach what the Anglican Communion preaches and teaches. They preach and teach what we preach and teach. It would be impossible for us to recognize any inhibition or deposition imposed upon them.
Read moreThe response to the Primates is a technical yes and an actual no. The response is extremely disappointing. It is also, of course, dishonest in any coherent moral analysis.
Read moreThe conflict has simmered since 2003, when Smith was among the bishops who voted to confirm the Rev. V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire to be the church's first openly gay bishop. Though homosexuality is accepted by many Episcopalians, the church has not officially permitted the ordination of non-celibate gays and lesbians or the blessing of gay unions.
All six priests now under threat openly disagreed with Smith on the issue and asked him to name another bishop to minister to them.
Read moreWe are acutely aware that we meet in a time of great distress and need in the wider world. War, famine and disease stalk the earth. We express our passionate commitment to the mission of the church and especially to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals endorsed by our General Convention.
Read moreBishop Smith supports theological innovations regarding human sexuality embraced by the 2003 General Convention of the Episcopal Church that are contrary to Scripture, to the traditional teaching of Anglicanism, and to positions firmly supported by the leadership of the Anglican Church comprising over 70 million members worldwide.
Read more