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Six embattled Episcopal priests still mulling meeting with bishop
Newsday.com
April 16, 2005
HARTFORD, Conn. -- Six Episcopal priests facing removal in a flap over their opposition to a gay bishop are still considering whether to meet with their own bishop to resolve the controversy.
The conflict between the priests and Connecticut Bishop Andrew Smith stems from the rift that has divided the U.S. Episcopal Church since 2003, when the Rev. V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire became the church's first openly gay bishop.
The six priests facing removal opposed Robinson's elevation, while Smith supported it. The six parishes sought last May to be supervised by a different bishop.
Smith had said the priests faced removal as early as Friday for failing to meet with him to work out a solution and shirking their financial obligations to the diocese.
But he issued a statement Friday evening saying he wants to meet with the priests Monday before he takes action. Bishop Gordon Paul Scruton of the Diocese of Western Massachusetts would also attend.
Cynthia Brust, a spokeswoman for the conservative American Anglican Council, which is backing the priests, said Saturday they still have not decided whether to meet with Smith.
Meanwhile, six conservative priests from other states intend to be in Connecticut to preach in the six churches Sunday morning even though Smith has yet to take action.
"The priests are still coming as a show of support," Brust said. "Just because he didn't inhibit them yesterday didn't mean he's not going to. The threat is still is there."
Priests scheduled to visit Connecticut are the Rev. David Roseberry of Plano, Texas, who is slated to speak at Bishop Seabury Church in Groton; the Rev. Greg Brewer of Paoli, Pa., who will speak at Christ and the Epiphany Church in East Haven; the Rev. John Guernsey of Dale City, Va., who will visit Christ Church in Watertown; the Rev. Kendall Harmon of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, who will speak at Trinity Episcopal Church in Bristol; the Rev. Mary Hays of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, who will visit St. Paul's Church in Darien; and the Rev. William Murdoch of Newbury, Mass., who will speak at St. John's Church in Bristol.
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