You are here
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Rector resigns in wake of Nash case
TILTON, NH (6/4/2005)-- The Rev. Janet Lombardo, pastor of Trinity Episcopal Church, has resigned following 14 hours of meetings with church leaders and Bishop Gene Robinson.
The meetings focused on five issues including pastoral judgment, notably allowing a convicted felon to become a leader of the youth group and permitting him to have control of the checkbook for the church's food pantry program.
Lombardo, reached at her home Wednesday, said she did not wish to make any comment.
The resignation comes about a month after the indictment mid-April of Scott Nash, a senior warden at the church. Nash has been indicted in Merrimack County for allegedly molesting young children and in Belknap County for allegedly stealing money from the church-run food bank.
Paul Leary, a church warden, and the Trinity Church Vestry, which oversees daily operations of the church, announced the resignation in a letter distributed to members of the congregation.
In the letter, the Vestry members stated that they "acknowledge Janet deserves consideration and forgiveness, but this doesn't negate accountability."
The letter said Leary, the vestry members and Lombardo worked hard, struggling with the ramifications of the criminal investigation into Nash's activities.
"During the process, it became clear to us that we had a responsibility to our Trinity family as well as the larger body of our Christian brothers and sisters and to look back and examine how such a tragedy could have occurred in a place where we all have a need to feel safe and holy," the letter said.
The pastoral examination, vestry members said, went back three years and involved a lot of time addressing concerns with Lombardo. Concerns relating to her and her ministry were: authority, collaboration, commitment, dissemination of information, and judgment.
"We believe Janet's inability to address these themes in a collegial manner with the vestry had direct bearing on the unfortunate events that developed. We also believe that the self-acknowledged stresses in her life, especially around her inability to submerse herself in the Tilton community and her doctoral studies led to poor judgment and decision making on her part," they said.
Nash previously had been convicted in Grafton County Superior Court of theft by unauthorized taking. He was accused of stealing $128,000 from the Littleton Hospital.
The church now has a screening policy requiring background checks. It is the same type used by school districts.
He said he does not know what policy, if any, was in place under Lombardo.
Vestry members questioned why Lombardo allowed Nash to become involved with the youth group at the church. They also questioned why he was given access to the checkbook, considering he had a felony conviction involving the theft of funds.
They also questioned her ability to focus on her doctoral thesis while not being able to provide office hours for congregation members.
The meetings with Lombardo, Bishop Gene Robinson, and the Rev. Tim Rich lasted for more than 14 hours in an attempt to find common ground with these issues.
"Janet chose to tender her resignation rather than have the parish go through a difficult period with a minimum of 120 days while the bishop did a thorough investigation that could lead to dissolution of the pastoral relationship," they said.
Leary said Lombardo accomplished a lot during her seven years as pastor but it was time for her to look for a new ministry.
"Seven years is about the national average for a pastor," he said.
Leary said Lombardo oversaw renovations to the dining area, school area, helped to set up the food pantry which is now part of the Twin Rivers Interfaith Pantry and developed outreach programs.
"It was not an easy decision for her or the congregation," Leary said
The Rev. Tim Rich, ordinary to the cannon (bishop's assistant) said the conclusion reached concerned more events than just the criminal investigation.
"The criminal activity was an example. But the important themes discussed were not born of the criminal investigation," he said.
Bishop Robinson could not be reached as he is out-of-town.
"The bishop's concern is for the parish congregation, the life and ministry of the church. the current leaders of the congregation and a priest in his diocese," Rich said.
The Rev. Lewis Stone is filling-in as supply minister. An interim pastor is expected to be at the church by the end of June or early July.
Leary said an interim minister typically serves from nine to 15 months and will be asked if he wants to remain. If he does not, the church will start the search process, he explained.
A Merrimack County Superior Court grand jury indicted Nash on two special felony counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault and one Class B felony count of felonious sexual assault.
He was indicted in Belknap County on two Class A felony counts of theft by unauthorized taking.
Police announced in mid-February that Nash, 46, formerly of Northfield, was under investigation. He was arrested in New York City after he returned from Aruba.
END
