Petition of Parishioners of St. Andrew's Church delivered to CNY Bishop

On July 17, 2006, Bishop Skip Adams signed court papers to commence a lawsuit against St. Andrew's to seize the church property. On July 19th, he brought the case to court. That same day he sent a letter to the members of the parish inviting them to meet with him for "dialogue." The meeting was held this evening, July 25th, as a severe thunderstorm stuck the Syracuse area with lightening and drenching rain. The Bishop, his chancellor, and two diocesan employees were there to greet those who came. Raymond Dague, the attorney for the parish, accompanied by one member of the parish brought a petition to the bishop. Five other people showed up for the meeting.

Text of the petition read to the Bishop:

To: Bishop Gladstone B. Adams, III
July of 2006

We, the undersigned People of the Free Church of St. Andrews in the Valley, have received a letter from you inviting us to attend a meeting with you for “open dialogue.” We are deeply offended that you have sued our church and its leaders. We support our church and its leaders in the actions which they have taken and for which you have sued us. We find your words and actions hypocritical when you claim to desire open dialogue with us while you are suing us. We will meet with you to discuss our differences in our respective faith, beliefs, and practice once you have discontinued the lawsuit against us. We urge you to repent of your actions and the ungodly spectacle of you, a bishop, suing a Christian Church to impose your will on us. May God have mercy on your soul.

153 people who attend the Free Church of St. Andrews in the Valley in Syracuse, New York signed this petition to the bishop in response to his request to come to the cathedral to discuss things with him just after he sued the parish, its rector Fr. Bob Hackendorf, and all of the individuals on its board of trustees/vestry. The statement was read to the bishop and he was shown the written copy of it and allowed to flip through the pages to see all of the names. Out of concern that he could use this list against the people who signed it, the bishop was not given a copy of the petition.

Each person who signed the petition set forth next to their name the year in which they started to worship at St. Andrews. The total came to 1,712 years of attendance at the parish.