Had you first inquired concerning Father Mark Hansen and the conditions at Saint John's, Bristol, our communication would be far more productive. I regret that none of the bishops who signed the letter had the wisdom or courtesy to call before launching this broadside. If we are engaged in a "very public conflict," it is the work of others, and of letters such as yours.

I deny your contention that the Standing Committee or I have misapplied Title IV, Canon 10, which in fact does not address parishes (as you state) but only clergy.

I also wonder where you got the notion of my "refusal to allow appeal to the Panel of Reference." First of all, a bishop cannot refuse to allow appeal to the Panel of Reference, nor would I consider doing so. Second, I have the deepest respect for Archbishop Williams and for his leadership. The Panel of Reference is an offering if his ministry, under his guidance, and is a resource for the Church when local initiatives have not been successful.

From the time of the House of Bishops meeting in March 2004 I have offered delegated episcopal pastoral oversight in Connecticut, as contained in "Caring for All the Churches." In fact I have implemented this arrangement with one parish of the diocese.

But the six clergy you mention have consistently refused to consider delegated episcopal pastoral oversight, as is clear in their correspondence and public statements. The situation was precipitated by a May 2004 letter of demands from six parishes and their rectors. Their letter limits me to two choices. One is that I repudiate decisions I have made as bishop so as to believe as they do. The other is that I suspend the Constitution and Canons of the Church and this diocese just for them.

These demands far exceed delegated espiscopal pastoral oversight, which is what this Church can offer, and which has been recognized by the Primates of the Anglican Communion.

I have initiated action under Title IV Canon 10 against only one priest in this diocese. The Standing Committee found that the Rev. Mark Hansen had abandoned communion with his bishop by the demands of the May 2004 letter. Further, he ignored well-established disciplines required of priests by ECUSA Canon and the policies of this diocese. Also important, for a time which as yet we have been unable to determine, he has abandoned his ministry in Saint John's to hold a secular position in another state while at the same time on sabbatical from Saint John's.

The parish leaders of Saint John's enabled and protected Father Hansen in these arrangements, and are uncooperative, evasive and not forthcoming when questioned by members of my staff. For more than a year the parish has ignored its payments to our revolving loan fund. Members and leaders who disagree with Father Hansen have felt intimidated, and many left the parish. There are significant outstanding bills, and the electric company had sent the parish a shut-off notice. We have not seized any funds of the parish, as you claim we have, and in the past week we have paid more that $20,000 in parish bills from diocesan resources - including $8,500 owed on Father Hansen's pension.

Should you get to know us better, you will find that Connecticut is a diocese that enjoys wide theological and liturgical diversity, and that our clergy represents the great breadth of the church's spectrum of belief and practice.

In the spirit of "Caring for All the Churches," I continue to look for ways forward together. To that end, at the invitation of its rector, I met with members of one of the six parishes you name on Sunday afternoon, July 24, for an open and direct conversation. For me it was a time of grace, both during formal discussion and our informal reception afterward –the beginning of a renewed relationship, I pray.

Our Lord Jesus will be better served if we, especially those of us who lead and serve as bishops, discipline ourselves to refrain from publicly-paraded, instantaneous judgments and automatic condemnations. I also ask you to refrain from the repeated incursions which members of the Anglican Communion Network have made into the life and ministry of this diocese.

And I pray that, even as we know him differently, we may all serve the Lord Christ in unity and harmony, grace and love - and so be a blessing to Jesus and for the world.

Yours in Christ,

Andrew D. Smith
Bishop of Connecticut