The Episcopal Church has entered into a suit in support of the Diocese of Connecticut against the former rector and vestry members of Bishop Seabury Episcopal Church in Groton, Connecticut. The motion was granted by Connecticut’s New London Judicial District Court on June 24. The Diocese of Connecticut filed a similar suit April 30 in the same court.
Both complaints ask that the court prevent the defendants, who have left the Episcopal Church, from retaining church property. Additional plaintiffs are Bishop Seabury Church and its priest-in-charge, the Rev. Canon David Cannon.
Since becoming a parish in 1955, Bishop Seabury Church — which is named for the first Episcopal bishop and Groton native Samuel Seabury (1729-1796) — has been connected to the diocese in various ways, including through participation at annual conventions and receipt of gifts and loans.
Former rector the Rev. Ronald S. Gauss and some former members of the congregation, including vestry members, affiliated with the conservative Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA) in November 2007. According to the complaints, Gauss has refused to relinquish control of the church property, including keys to the buildings and parish records to Cannon.
“No, we don’t need GAFCon … nothing like what they described in their report happens here!”
🙄
Jim Elliott <><
Back in the 90’s, Bishop Seabury had a major construction project. They added on a huge new sanctuary. No kidding, I believe that a couple in the congregation won the lottery and paid off the loans for this building.
It is a thriving congregation of about 300. The diocese has been nothing but an obstacle to this Church. My Mom goes there and it is very sad to know how the bishop has conducted himself. I won’t go into details, but his conduct is utterly shameful.
My question is – what resources do the orthodox parish have now post-GAFCON/Jerusalem Declaration? What can and will the Common Cause Partnership and the global orthodox community do assist the orthodox in this parish?
Fr. Gauss will be a formidable opponent for TEC’s minions. Win or lose, they’ll know they’ve been in a fight.
#3
My guess is “none” and “nothing.”
[blockquote]Cannecticut[/blockquote]
Must be an overlapping state jurisdiction. Maybe they have flying governors.
My wish for TEC is that they have just as much success as they have had in Virginia.
This is a – heads I lose, tails you win – situation for the diocese. They “won” in Bristol against Trinity church. The church now stands empty. The rump church doesn’t have enough to justify opening the church’s doors and so continues to meet at a Lutheran church. The diocese will pay for the considerable expenses of the physical plant, quickly eating up any money they can get IF they can sell it.
Just plain idiocy on the part of the diocese and Mr Smith.
Further to #7, like Bristol, we in Watertown let it go and walked away. Rumor has it that our old church building is now quietly on the market, and the only likely buyer (the prep school around the corner) has expressed disinterest.
Fr. Ron and Seabury are in a much stronger position to fight this fight than we were, and I wish them well.
Shades of Bp. O’Neill vs. Grace and St. Stephens in Colorado Springs. Good luck Rev. Gauss – May the Holy Spirit guide you and give you strength.
My bet is on Fr. Gauss. He and his vestry have thought this one out and he’s the kind of guy that would take the diocese to the mat if needed.