Diocese files lawsuit to retain maverick Bristol church

August 18, 2007

BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) _ The Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut is suing in an attempt to regain possession of a local church that broke ranks with the diocese over the appointment of an openly gay bishop.

The congregation of Trinity Episcopal Church in Bristol voted in May to join the more conservative Anglican Church of Nigeria.

The diocese's lawsuit, filed this month in New Britain Superior Court, argues that Trinity's rector, the Rev. Donald Helmandollar, and other church leaders gave up their legal rights to control the parish, its records and furnishings.

Connecticut Bishop Andrew Smith had ordered Trinity church members to vacate the buildings and surrender control of them to the diocese by July 8. Instead, church members said through an attorney that they would not give up the property and threatened to bring trespass charges against anyone from the diocese who tried to take it.

Trinity and five other Connecticut parishes sued Smith in 2005, seeking several million dollars in damages.

They say he violated their civil and property rights after they tried to break away because he supported the election of Gene Robinson, an openly gay man, as bishop of New Hampshire.

A federal judge dismissed the case against Smith last year, and the parishes are appealing.

In May, the diocese also deposed Helmandollar _ the equivalent of being defrocked _ although he said he continued afterward to lead worship services in the church.

The Episcopal Church has splintered nationwide since Robinson's 2003 consecration as New Hampshire's bishop. Trinity was among six Connecticut parishes that opposed Smith's support of Robinson's election.

At least 45 parishes nationwide have left the Episcopal Church over disputes about ordaining openly gay pastors and the blessing of same-sex unions, according to the denomination.

The Episcopal Church comprises 2.4 million members in 62 countries and is part of the 38-member provinces of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

This article comes from NewsDay.Com
http://www.newsday.com/

The URL for this story is:
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/connecticut/ny-bc-ct--episcopalbishop0818aug18,0,7817349.story