Letter from Bishop Skip Adams to Parishioners of St. Andrew's Church

In one of the more bizarre communications from a liberal Episcopal bishop to date, Central New York’s Skip Adams wrote a letter which he sent out by bulk mail to every member of St. Andrew’s church in Syracuse for whom he could find an address. Two days before he sent the letter out, he signed legal papers suing the parish and seeking to seize its property and shut down worship services at the church. On the same day of this letter the Diocesan lawyer was arguing before a judge that the court should prevent the transfer of any property of the church including any monies used to pay salaries or church expenses. The Court ultimately denied the Diocesan request, but had it been granted, it would have shut down the parish.


The Rt. Rev. Gladstone B. Adams III
The Diocese of Central New York

July 19, 2006

Dear People of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church:

As you may know, the Vestry of St Andrew’s Episcopal Church, without prior conversation with me, has taken legal action to amend its Certificate of Incorporation. This is an apparent attempt to disassociate St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church from the Diocese of Central New York and, in turn, my authority as Bishop. Therefore, I have taken steps to challenge this action in the Supreme Court of the State of New York. An accompanying press release to this effect is enclosed.

I am offering you the opportunity to meet with me so that I may explain this action and encourage open dialogue. This meeting will take place on Tuesday, July 25th at 7:00 p.m. in St Paul’s Cathedral.

Please know that you remain in my prayer with the hope that the reconciling love of Jesus will lead us through this difficult time.

Faithfully in Christ,
Gladstone B. Adams III
Bishop


Cc The Very Rev. Katherine Day [president of the Standing Committee]
Members of the Diocesan Board and Standing Committee
District Deans
Mr. Paul J. Curtin, Jr., Esq. [chancellor of the diocese]
Mr. Jonathan B. Fellows, Esq. [lawyer hired by the diocese]


Bishop’s statement on back of letter:

July 19, 2006

The Diocese of Central New York has commenced an action against the lay leadership of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Syracuse seeking a declaration from the Court regarding the ownership of property held by St. Andrew’s. St. Andrew’s was founded in the early 1900’s as an Episcopal Church, and was supported by the Diocese as a mission of the Diocese of Central New York for decades. Bishop Gladstone Adams stated: It saddens me to have to take this step, but it was necessary because the leadership of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Syracuse took legal action by filing an amended Certificate of Incorporation renouncing St. Andrew’s affiliation with the Episcopal Church. St. Andrew’s has stated that it is no longer under my supervision as the Bishop of Central New York, but is under the supervision of the Bishop of Rwanda. We regret that the current leadership has taken legal action to change the Certificate of Incorporation to renounce St. Andrew’s affiliation with the Episcopal Church. Their actions have left us no choice but to seek a declaration from the Court. While we would hope that people would not choose to do so, any of the members of St. Andrew’s who disagree with the actions of the Episcopal Church may leave the Episcopal Church. However, they are not free to take an Episcopal Church, its property or holdings, out of the denomination. We hope that the Court will act swiftly to set aside the actions taken by the lay leadership.

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