Panel of Reference to Hear Florida Alliance Complaint
5/9/2006

The Archbishop of Canterbury’s chief of staff has written to the “Florida 6,” saying the Panel of Reference will hear an appeal in those congregations’ dispute with the Rt. Rev. Samuel Johnson Howard, Bishop of Florida.

In a letter dated April 26, Chris Smith confirmed to the rector of Redeemer Anglican Church in Jacksonville, the Rev. Neil G. Lebhar, that “the matter is now with the Panel of Reference.” Bishop Howard had been advised “accordingly,” Mr. Smith said, adding that Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold also had been advised as a “matter of courtesy.”

In June 2005 the “Florida 6,” as the group of dissenting congregations was once known, filed a petition with the Panel of Reference seeking arbitration from the Archbishop of Canterbury in their dispute with the diocese, Bishop Howard, and the General Convention.

Mr. Smith also asked for a stay of civil and ecclesiastical litigation within the diocese, writing the Panel of Reference processes “include a request that there be a stay on any civil or ecclesiastical proceedings during the period of reference to the panel. I would be grateful if you could let me know how we should view this situation, and whether there are some further steps that need to be taken before the panel takes any further action.”

Portions of 10 congregations in the diocese have left the Episcopal Church since 2004 including clergy, lay leaders and communicants from Grace Church, Orange Park; St. Michael’s, Gainesville; St. James’, MacClenny; St. Bartholomew’s, High Springs; St. Luke’s and St. John’s, Tallahassee; and All Souls’, Calvary, Nativity, and Redeemer in Jacksonville. the rest at The Living Church