FOOTNOTE: VOL has learned from a source that Episcopal attorney David Booth Beers occasionally attends this church, St. John's, as his son - also David Beers is a parishioner. The rector the Rev. Joe Pace, was responsible for firing the Sexton Rick Pond who had worked there for more than 20 years replacing him with Joey Joiner. Pond filed a lawsuit against St. John's on compensation related grounds: http://dockets.justia.com/docket/court-ctdce/case_no-3:2009cv00348/case_id-84541/ This church is also where Bishop James Curry Suffragan Bishop of Connecticut attends weekly. If this woman sues, it will be quite a mess for the CT Diocese.

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The following is Mr. Pond's letter to the parish.

Dear Parishioners,

It is with great sadness and deep emotion that after 27 years of loyal and dedicated service to the church, outside groups and especially you I am not being required to vacate my position at St. John's. Over these years, even since I was baptized here the memories are abounding. Many of you jokingly have told me to write a book, could I ever. The friendships me and my family have made are countless and will always continue. I have celebrated with the births of your children and yes for some, your grandchildren. To have been able to watch your kids grow and families evolve has been very special, something I will always cherish. Many of you have watched my family grow and taken a keen interest in their lives, it will always be greatly appreciated. Sadly of course there is the other end of the spectrum, the passing of life. I have shared with many of you in deep sorrow and emotion in the loss of a loved one. Together we have been thru a lot.

Many of you have called or written to wish me well on my supposed retirement. You also have stated that I am too young to retire and how could you leave now with the economic climate as bad as it is. How could you give up the security of the church which you loved so much and your house? The answer to that question is simple, I'm being forced to leave and believe me it is not my choice although I've heard from members of the vestry that is how it is being portrayed by the rector and senior warden.

Recently I was blind sighted by the rector in that after 27 years of working full time without a set schedule, which the intricacies of the job will not effectively allow I was now being required to have a set schedule and full time hours. In addition to these hours I would still be required to plow snow, open and close for events including clean up, security checks, running errands and much more. On top of all this I have been required to be on call 24/7 for all these years and have been called at all hours of the day and night. These hours would easily some times reach 50 or 60 a week which I felt was unfair and especially if not being compensated for them. I offered the rector an adjusted schedule that I felt would work for both of us which was quite fair and consisted of working full time hours but was rejected by both he and he senior warden. I expected conversations and negotiations to continue to resolve the matter and to be able continue working, they were not offered, I was forced to retire.

After 27 years of giving my heart and soul the senior warden offered me as severance basically a prayer and a handshake and asked me to move out of my house within one month of my forced retirement date. I apologize but in the end with no fair compromise in sight I felt it necessary to seek legal council who has subsequently filed suit on my behalf against the church. I never wished for this to happen, I'm sure you don't either.

I personally feel as many others also do that my departure was not dealt with in a fair, democratic fashion, let alone led by any Christian ethic. Words cannot express how saddened I am about my leaving.

Rick Pond