Church of one of the "Connecticut Six" now 'in exile'

BRISTOL -- It has been nearly 10 months since the leadership and many members of St. John’s Episcopal Church went into "exile" in a dispute with the Rev. Andrew D. Smith, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut over the consecration of an openly gay bishop in New Hampshire. Since that time, Bristol’s Trinity Episcopal Church, led by its rector, the Rev. Donald Helmandollar, has opened their doors to the members of the self-titled "St. John’s in Exile."

"The people at St. John’s were virtually left homeless," said Helmandollar, before Trinity’s Saturday "Jesus Lights the Way" celebration. "We made a home for them here in every way that we could. We’re family. We’ve had a relationship with them for a long time." … With the two now functioning as one, Helmandollar said they consider themselves the "real Anglican voice in Bristol." …

The Associated Press, at the time of Hansen’s dismissal, reported that diocesan officials said that Hansen was put on "inhibition" because he took an unauthorized sabbatical and St. John’s had stopped making payments on a loan for its building on Stafford Avenue. According to the report, Hansen maintained that he notified Smith of his sabbatical plans. Helmandollar said Smith’s actions weren’t about that, but an ongoing dispute from a difference in opinion and beliefs. Hansen was the only one of the "Connecticut Six" priests to be dismissed by the bishop. The "Connecticut Six" opposed Smith as their leader and asked to be overseen by another bishop because of Smith’s decision to support the consecration of the Rev. V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire as the church’s first openly gay bishop. The "Connecticut Six" includes the Rev. Christopher Leighton of St. Paul’s Church in Darien, the Rev. Allyn Benedict of Christ Episcopal Church in Watertown, the Rev. Ronald Gauss of Bishop Seabury Church in Groton, the Rev. Gilbert Wilkes of Christ and the Epiphany Church in East Haven along with Helmandollar and Hansen. From: Church ‘in exile’ finds home @ Bristol Press