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Episcopal Diocese of Lexington January 2004 |
Front Page
Canon violation brings Executive Council discipline to St. John’s, Versailles
—by Kay Collier McLaughlin
The Executive Council of the Diocese of Lexington voted to relegate St. John’s, Versailles, to mission status for violation of diocesan Canons at a special called meeting of the governing body on Jan. 7. Based on what the Executive Council deemed a failure to conduct a reasonable search for a rector, it endorsed the appointment of a minister in charge of St. John’s to serve for the period of one year to allow a proper search to be conducted. In accordance with Diocesan canons related to mission, the bishop will immediately appoint a Bishop’s Committee from the membership of St. John’s to serve as the leadership for the congregation. Bishop Sauls hopes to restore St. John’s to parish status as soon as possible. The decision followed the Bishop’s disapproval of St. John’s “irregular” call of a priest to become rector of the 157-year-old parish because he could not commit to remaining within the Episcopal Church. The process was deemed irregular for failing to adhere to prescribed process, for not working cooperatively with the Bishop, including the refusal to reveal the name of the candidate, and for issuing a call before a candidate was interviewed or approved by the Bishop, ignoring the canonical process. The Executive Council also believed that there was significant risk of the vestry removing St. John’s from the Diocese and the Episcopal Church, and moved to protect the property as an Episcopal Church. The assets of a parish in such a move are protected for the use of the parish, and audited independently. The Rev. Phillip Haug has been appointed Minister in Charge of St. John’s.
The resolution, passed by a vote of 14-1, states that “It appears to the Executive Council that the Vestry of St. John’s has violated Canon 16 of the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington in that it failed to conduct the affairs of the Parish according to the Constitution and Canons of the Church and has violated those canons in numerous other respects. In that the Vestry has, since August 2002, functioned as the Rector in the absence thereof, it has failed to be subject to the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church and the godly council of the Bishop as required by Canon 17.09 of the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington. It further appears to the Executive Council that the Vestry has failed to make reasonable efforts to fill the position of Rector in the parish in violation of Canon 26.02. Based on the totality of its conduct, the Vestry of St. John’s Church appears to the Executive Council to have abandoned the status of parish as defined in Canons 16 and 17. The Executive Council has considered the proper remedy for violation of Canon 17.03 as well as other canonical violations at issue, and has determined that the reasonable and proper remedy available is the remedy provided in Canon 17.13(b) and hereby finds, based upon prayer and discernment and careful review of the canons, that this remedy is to be exercised when a parish fails to comply with any of the terms of Canon 16 or 17 and is specifically appropriate in the case of St. John’s Episcopal Church of Versailles.”
The violations in question occurred during the rector search process, which began with the August 2002 resignation of the Rev. Alan Hansen, who served the parish as rector from 1991 to August 2002. According to Episcopal polity, there are specific guidelines for such process. Traditionally, each diocesan Bishop also provides further guidance, as well as having final jurisdiction over the selection of a rector. Judge Wilson, a member of the St. John’s vestry, told the Executive Council that at the beginning of the search process, the main issues facing the parish appeared to be differences over traditional and contemporary music and worship. By late spring of 2003, Wilson said, the vestry “became aware of issues in the larger church that had not been issues at St. John’s.” Wilson believes that several “attractive candidates” from a list of over 50 were unwilling to consider a call to the Diocese of Lexington, which, in Wilson’s words, they considered “revisionist and liberal.” Other groups of parishioners from St. John’s, who have requested the Bishop’s intervention, believe that departure from traditional Episcopal teaching and polity and a move toward congregationalism had been dividing the parish since early in Hansen’s tenure. Both so-called loyalists, and current vestry leadership describe the leadership direction of St. John’s as aligned with the so-called conservative alternative groups which have been moving toward separation from the Episcopal Church for many years. While Wilson and the now former vestry members named the actions of the 2003 General Convention, including the vote of Bishop Sauls and the Lexington deputation, as major issues in the conflicted search process, they denied any intention of leaving the Episcopal Church, despite alleged plans for leaving which had been rumored. Long-time member of St. John’s the Rev. Jay Pierce told the Executive Council that lack of Episcopal teaching in recent years resulting in disregard for regular practices of any parish church could lead to a move away from the Diocese of Lexington and the Episcopal Church. As of Sunday, Jan. 11, a group of former St. John’s parishioners were worshipping together under the name St. Andrew’s Anglican Church. They have called the Rev. David Brennan from St. Stephen’s Church in Sewickley, Pa., to be their rector; he has accepted the call and bought a home in Versailles.
According to the Rev. Anisa Cottrell Willis, President of the Standing Committee, speaking as a parish priest, there are certain accepted ways of conducting the business of a parish, which would include by-laws which adhere to rather than be in conflict with the Constitution and Canons of the national church and diocese; deeding of property to the diocese in trust and cooperation with the Bishop in clearly defined manner of conducting search processes. St. John’s had re-written the preamble of their by-laws excluding important terminology, and had not filed those bylaws with the Diocese, and continues to hold the deed to their property, despite the Canon law passed nationally in 1979 on this issue, and a subsequent Diocesan canon in agreement.
While Wilson protested the “legalistic” approach of the resolution of Executive Council, Council members pointed to the need to protect a church of the diocese from legalistic maneuvering which had already taken place by a parish.
Haug, the Interim Minister-in-charge of St. John’s, served as assistant to the Rev. Bill Faupel, Interim Rector. He says, “My role is to lead this parish through the painful changes of separation from many who have been a part of its life. This is not the end of St. John’s; this is a bump in the road. It is like a divorce in the family. The children and rest of the family have to find a way to live with dignity and grace. I have met with the Bishop and the parish and leadership and we are beginning to put things in place.” Members of the current vestry were asked for their resignations. Bishop Sauls will appoint a Bishop’s Committee immediately. While saddened by the necessity for such action, Bishop Sauls states firmly that “we must be governed by the doctrine, discipline and worship of the Episcopal Church - especially in periods of uncertainty and strong disagreement. I have pledged to be governed by those principles and for the Diocese to be governed by them under my leadership since the first time I set foot in the Diocese of Lexington. I have informed the clergy that the weight of the church will be brought to bear against any priest who should perform an unauthorized blessing of a same sex relationship. I must equally apply the standard of canonical adherence to all. Throughout St. John’s search process, I have sought the consultation of senior clergy, Standing Committee and Executive Council. I am gratified that all of these leaders will do what is necessary to stay within the boundaries of our tradition. I am also grateful that Good Shepherd and Christ Church Cathedral, Lexington, have offered their help to St. John’s in re-organizing their computer accounting system.”
“I realize, of course, that I have no authority over whether individuals leave the Episcopal Church whatever moral obligations I have to a congregation as a whole. It is my hope, however, that no one will leave St. John’s Church. The truth of the Gospel is that, whether we like it or not, we need each other, liberals and conservatives alike. We need each other because we are all created in the image of a triune God. And that means that we need each other to be the object of each other’s love just as God’s own nature is to abide in eternal love.”
John Edwards, former Vestry member of St. John’s, says, “In my opinion, it has never been about ‘bricks and mortar’ or ‘buildings and funds’ — the issue has been Biblical authority and obedience to His Word! My decision to attend a new church is based on adherence to God’s instruction — not a hierarchal, man-made authority that is in direct contradiction to His Word.”
Tom Thornbury, former Senior Warden, spoke with The Advocate on Tuesday evening. “We have been characterized as interested in property and assets of St. John’s, and had we been interested in property and assets, we would not have ended up in the financial shape we’re in. My personal pledge to St. John’s went in good faith, and is paid in full. We were waiting on a yes or no for our preferred candidate for rector. If he was accepted, we were thinking of possible alternative Episcopal oversight within ECUSA. At the same time, the Bishop was organizing relegation to mission status and expulsion of the vestry. We feel this was pre-emptive and punitive action against a very honorable and faithful group of Episcopalians in a small parish. I think, perhaps, it was to serve notice to others. As a result, the majority have chosen to leave and form an Anglican, orthodox, Bible-centered church to be affiliated with the Anglican Communion in a way yet to be decided. Having learned what we’ve learned about canon law, we are likely to take our time and consider Anglican options very seriously.”
Betty Rehm, a member of St. John’s for 53 years, who will continue her membership, said, “There are those in the church who disagree with General Convention concerning Bishop Robinson, but who feel that we have always been able to settle our differences in the church. Historically, Episcopalians have agreed to disagree. Not only do we who remain at St. John’s honor the process of the diocese, we don’t want to leave the diocese or the national church. We can learn to live together.”
Ann Richmond, who has been at St. John’s since 1972, stated: “I consider it very sad that we cannot continue together in our disagreement. I don’t believe the Episcopal Church requires a doctrinal litmus test - or should. Those who feel that they cannot worship with those with whom they disagree have left. Those who remain welcome anyone who believes in the doctrine, discipline and worship of the Episcopal Church, the Bible, the Prayer Book, the Sacraments. We feel that St. John’s is a place of inclusion, following the words of St. Paul, who said that Christians may disagree, but they may not see that we have no need of each other.”
Linda Reeves has been a member of St. John’s for 10 years, and is among the loyalists who remain. “Change is something we seldom embrace in our lives,” she says, “as it forces us from our positions of comfort to uncertainty. St. John’s has been in a state of change since the summer of 2002 with the loss of our Rector. However, as it has for 150 years, St. John’s has survived. The entire Episcopal Church across the country was thrown into discord by the controversial actions of the General Convention. From this controversy came differing opinions from clergy to vestry, vestry to congregations and even in our own households.
“With regret, some have chosen to leave St. John’s and follow their convictions elsewhere. Many parishioners will stay the course and embrace the differences. The one thing we should keep in focus is our belief in God and how best to serve Him in whatever capacity we feel we are called.
“St. John’s will survive this change, and will, in time, thrive. I say let’s embrace this change as a challenge to awaken us all to better serve the Lord.”
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