"I do not accept this inhibition. I am still the Rector of St. John's parish and the Bishop has no right to proceed in accordance to proper canon law," said Fr. Hansen.

On hearing the news the other five parish priests known as the "Connecticut Six" gathered together in solidarity with Hansen and the Senior Warden.

The bishop promptly announced that a woman priest was now in charge of the parish.

An observer noted, with a touch of cynicism that Bishop "Drew' Smith started with the parish where he knew the rector would be away today. He was there for a Vestry meeting last night.

THE FOLLOWING IS A LETTER FROM THE CT. SIX TO THE BISHOP

13 July 2005

The Rt. Rev. Andrew D. Smith,
Bishop
Diocese of Connecticut
1335 Asylum Avenue
Hartford, Connecticut 06105

Bishop Smith:

This letter is written in response to the recently promulgated schedule of Episcopal visitations and your stated desire for you, or one of the Suffragan Bishops, to preside at Holy Communion and preach at Sunday Services during these visits. A visit by you, or one of the Suffragan Bishops, is welcome at any time, but officiating at worship services would be inconsistent with the atmosphere of hostility and mistrust that exists between us.

You have charged our clergy and congregations with "abandoning the communion of the church" and you have threatened the clergy with inhibition and deposition. Additionally, you have stated as fact on numerous occasions that we have defied your authority and violated our vows of ordination.

We continue to maintain that these charges are false, but you continue to state them publicly and without regard for ecclesiastical 'due process'. Your public attacks on us and the parishes which we represent have created a hostile atmosphere in which the sanctity and dignity of a shared Eucharist are impossible.

The Exhortation, the introduction to the confession of sin, and the Disciplinary Rubrics of the Book of Common Prayer are all quite specific as to the spirit of love and charity which must be present for communal worship to take place - that those conditions do not exist between yourself and us is obvious to the most casual observer.

Additionally your desire to share Holy Communion with those whom you have declared to 'have abandoned the communion of the church' makes mockery of both the charge and the Sacrament. Departure from traditional Anglican teaching, as well as abandonment of scriptural authority and Biblical norms on your part constitute a violation of your own ordination vows and are significant factors which militate against your officiating or preaching at any worship service.

In recognition of your authority as bishop of this diocese, you are welcome to visit our parishes at any time; however for the above stated reasons, and in recognition of the wide theological gulf that separates us, that welcome does not include either presiding at the Eucharist or preaching.

We have appended copies of two letters from Bishop Griswold to Bishop Bennison which pertain to a similar situation; we are prepared to adhere to the directions of the Presiding Bishop and request that you do likewise.

Respectfully Yours in Christ,

Saint Paul's Church, Darien
Rector and Senior Warden

Christ Church, Watertown
Rector and Senior Warden

Trinity Church, Bristol
Rector and Senior Warden

St. John's Church, Bristol
Rector and Senior Warden

Bishop Seabury Church, Groton
Rector and Senior Warden

Christ & The Epiphany Church, East Haven
Rector and Senior Warden

cc: The Most Rev. Frank Griswold
The Standing Committee

THE BISHOP'S LETTER

Contact: Karin Hamilton, Director for Communication & Media email: editor@ctdiocese.org

This morning, the Rt. Rev. Andrew D. Smith, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut, inhibited the rector of St. John's Episcopal Church in Bristol, the Rev. Mark H. Hansen, removing him from that office, and appointed the Rev. Susan J. McCone to serve as priest-in-charge of the parish, effective immediately.

In March, Fr. Hansen announced to his parish that he would be taking sabbatical for an unspecified period of time. Although Episcopal priests in the Diocese of Connecticut formally apply for sabbatical, Fr. Hansen neglected to notify Bishop Smith of his departure as rector of the parish. In recent months, the bishop has become increasingly concerned for St. John's well-being as a full and healthy member parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut.

"I am concerned for the life and ministry of St. John's," said Bishop Smith. "In the past few months Fr. Hansen has made decisions that left the parish without sustained clergy leadership."

A letter formally inhibiting the Rev. Mark H. Hansen, St. John's rector, was delivered by Bishop Smith to St. John's Episcopal Church in Bristol. The Bishop was accompanied by the diocesan Canon for Stewardship and Administration, John ("Jack") W. Spaeth III, the Rev. Susan J. McCone, and Mr. Ed Seibert, who will provide administrative assistance. Fr. Hansen was not at the church or rectory; the bishop has not been notified of an alternate address.

In April, the diocesan Standing Committee, a council of advice for the bishop with specific responsibilities for clergy, recommended that Fr. Hansen be inhibited for abandoning the communion of the church.

"Inhibition" means that the Fr. Hansen may not exercise the privileges of ordained ministry in the Diocese for a period up to six months. If before six months is over, the bishop is satisfied that he has returned to the communion of the church, the inhibition will be lifted (removed). If after six months the bishop does not believe Fr. Hansen has returned to the communion of the church, the bishop may depose him, permanently removing the privileges of ordained ministry in this and all other dioceses of the Episcopal Church.

Bishop Smith has appointed the Rev. Susan J. McCone as priest-in-charge of the parish, effective immediately. She now has the responsibility for the worship, ministry, mission, and property, under the bishop's direction. Ed Seibert, an administrative and financial consultant, has been asked to assist in parish administration and to review parish records. The bishop will provide pastoral counselors who will be available to meet with and listen to members of the parish who may wish to speak with them.

A letter is being sent today to the members of St. John's, notifying them of these events and inviting them to a special meeting with Bishop Smith on Sunday evening, July 17. That meeting will be open only to members of St. John's Episcopal Church, Bristol, and closed to the media and non-members of the parish.

END