We've been robbed of our priest and of our building!!! The people that now occupy my beautiful building have no regard for the congregation as a whole, the vestry or even the Canons. And now I'm told the Gospel no longer sits on my beautiful altar at St. John's! I pray they put it back!

Smith is motivated by power and by power alone. He saw a CT6 parish whose rector was on sabbatical and thought it was easy to pick off. You either conform to his new view of the Bible or you are out. It's his way or the highway. It's like some sort of bad reality TV show named "BISHOPS GONE WILD"!

I have personally invested in my church with not only money, but with my time and my talent! I organize various fundraising events that range from selling fried dough to making and selling jewelry and floral arrangements with another devoted parishioner. I run everything from Angel tree to soup kitchens. My parish may be small, but we are united. These are good people at St. John's, the congregation, the vestry, and the rector.

I'm proud to say I currently serve on St. John's vestry and as well as chairperson for Outreach. Every decision I've made and every action I've taken has been in support of our parish and the Bible. I have no regrets about anything, except maybe charging too little for the crafts I sell that benefit St. John's.

While it is true that we have missed pledge and loan payments to the diocese, it is also true that Smith was aware of the fact we couldn't pay and still make our payroll, utilities and mortgage payments. In fact, Smith told us that he understood and thanked us for still pledging. So the second reason that Smith gives for committing this vile act, "for financial concerns of the parish" is also a farce.

Many of us at St. John's have literally worked our fingers to the bone to build our beautiful building! We love and respect Father Hansen and his family for all they have done for us. God blesses Father Mark for protecting St. John's and the Bible. He went on sabbatical to preserve our beliefs and "buy us more time" from the tyranny of this Bishop Smith. But both his efforts and ours could not prevent this dark Bishop Smith from his HOSTILE TAKEOVER.

My parish owns St. John's, not Bishop Smith. Yes I know that the diocese technically owns it, but I'm telling you the reality. Smith did nothing to build our church. Oh he did approve a small loan that we get to pay it back with interest! But Smith won't even perform confirmations any longer. This CT diocese seems to be willing to take our money, but is not willing to give anything in return. Not in dollars or in sacraments.

I was there last Wednesday it happened. I feel violated, they have our altar!!! Susan McCone is a liberal part time priest and doesn't share the same views as my parish. And I also feel soiled somehow that some bully has riffled through our private papers. Which by the way contains private HIPPA medical type information about our parishioners. THIS IS ILEGAL!!!!

God blesses you all for your support... the numerous emails, the wonderful websites such as David Virtue, CT6, and titus19. I know St. John's parish will fight this with all its strength and on many fronts. Action is what is now required. These unholy people must be removed or where will this stop? Also beware that all of our churches, orthodox or not, are at risk here. Regardless if you have a tolerant Bishop or not. This can happen to you, this will happen to you. It's all just a matter of time if we let what happened with St. John's go by.

We must all stay together in His WORD. I pray that all clergy and lay persons put pressure on ECUSA, to speak to the media, to get the word out that St. John's is NOT deserving of this kind of treatment from Bishop Smith. Also tell them that our congregation is now homeless as a result of this criminal action by Bishop Smith. STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS!!! And don't break the prayer chain!!!!

These words are my own opinion and I speak only for myself.

Tammy Vogt serves on the vestry of St. John's vestry and is chairperson for Outreach.