Sauls has inhibited the Rev. Martin Gornik at Apostles Anglican Church and his deacon the 80-year-old Rev. Anna Gulick. Both are no longer resident in the Diocese of Lexington but with an overseas province. He has also inhibited the Rev. Alice Linsley at St. Andrews Anglican Church in Versailles but she remains canonically resident in Lexington. She has been inhibited under Title IV, Canon 10. The two (Gornik and Gulick) have left the Episcopal Church and are no longer canonically resident in the diocese. He has also sent inhibition papers to Fr. David Brannen even though he is no longer a priest in the diocese but is under a bishop in Uganda. A fifth priest, who asked not to be named at this time, also faces the possibility of inhibition.

"Sauls likes to talk about inclusivity and that there is a place for everybody at the table. We are not looking to be accommodated or made a place for at the table. We desire truth and grace and order be restored at the table. Until then we are confidant that God can set a table for us in the wilderness," said Gornik to VirtueOnline.

At a recent clergy meeting Sauls reportedly explained why he had to inhibit Brennan saying that the priest fell under Title IV, Canon VII. Brannen was licensed with The Diocese of Pittsburgh. He is now under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of the Province of Uganda.

Sauls is rpoerted to have said that since he is the only recognized Anglican presence in the Diocese of Lexington, a priest from outside the Diocese cannot exercise ministry within the Diocese without the permission of the Bishop.

Brannen said Bishop Sauls’ has authority over Episcopal churches in his geographic area but he does not have any authority over churches of other denominations in this area. "He has no authority over me. If I were the rector of an Episcopal church in Versailles, Sauls would be in authority over me. This would have been the case had I become rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church. As rector of St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, however, I am in no way connected to Bishop Sauls. He has no more authority over me than he has over the pastor of a Baptist or Methodist church," he told VirtueOnline.

"I work for Bishop Nathan Kyamanywa from the Diocese of Bunyoro-Kitara, Uganda. I am in effect a missionary to the United States from Uganda. Only my bishop and our archbishop, Henri Luke Orombi, have the ecclesiastical authority to direct my ministry at St. Andrew’s."

The Province of Uganda is in broken communion with the Episcopal Church U.S.A. over major theological differences regarding the faith and sexual morality, specifically the consecration of a homosexual bishop to the episcopacy.

"Bishop Sauls knows this. He is a lawyer and a student of Episcopal Church law. This raises the rather obvious question: Why is Bishop Sauls threatening me with an ecclesiastical trial?"

Brannen said Sauls had overstepped his authority in even suggesting such a thing. "It appears he is trying to harass and discredit me and my parish. I’m at a loss as to what other possible motivations he might have."

Should Sauls proceed with a “trial,” it would be a very odd event, said Brannen. "I would not be required to be present. The court’s findings would not be binding on me. I would be free to ignore them. I think Bishop Sauls views such a trial as 'making a statement' about my legitimacy. I think, however, he simply looks vindictive."

Bishop Sauls often says that he is a proponent of inclusivity, said Brannen. "He says he is bending over backwards to find ways for all of us to get along. But there is a glaring inconsistency between his words and his actions.

Brannen said that since leaving the diocese and the ECUSA - one year ago - St. Andrew's Anglican Church now had a combined service of 200 people up from 120-130 when they left St. John's Episcopal in Versailles. "We meet in a school, but we have signed a contract on a piece of land."

Brannen told VirtueOnline that the actual charges against "The Lexington 5" are sad. "I have been charged with "preaching and leading worship". The Rev. Alice Linsley has been charged with the crime of teaching adult education at St. Andrews Anglican. The Rev. Martin Gornik has been inhibited as his deacon Anna Gulick on similar charges. There is a systematic pattern of abuse by Sauls. He is a bad leader."

Other sources say the finances of the diocese are in a shambles; a third of the churches are in arrears with their assessments and under considerable financial pressure, so why is he chasing clergy down. The problems of the diocese are about money, abuse of power, bad theology and much more.

Another source said that many in the diocese have become disgusted by the way Sauls is running the diocese and have tried to restrict their giving to the Cathedral Domain a retreat center for the diocese located near Irvine Kentucky. Many in the churches are at odds with the diocese's gay agenda, he said.

"The truth is the money always ends up in the same pot. This is a ridiculous strategy."

Brannen said that apart from the five clergy under direct attack, his impression is that many more live in fear of the bishop if they step out of line. "He is creating a hostile environment while the diocese is in decline. He is not fit to lead locally. His bad theology makes it worse."

Brannen cited as a case in point a color brochure he received of a special weekend called "Equipping the Saints" being offered by the local Integrity (ECUSA pansexual) chapter. Sauls is listed as giving the keynote address: "Love Precedes Truth: A Pastoral Theology of Grace." This is bad theology right in the title of the address, he said. The conference is being held at the Cathedral Domain.

"Relationships have grown more tense over the years between the orthodox and the bishop with the situation worsening after Sauls voted to support V. Gene Robinson's ordination and consecration. I see no sign of it letting up; the future of all orthodox believers in the diocese is at stake and it will become the issue now and in the foreseeable future."

There are now three Anglican churches in Lexington, One is AMIA; one is under the archbishop of Uganda and a third which is yet to be announced. "We are partners in the gospel. A new Biblical Anglicanism is being formed in Kentucky and we are going to plant churches and reach lost people," said Brannen.

END