Episcopal lay leaders attempt to take over church in Darien

From Connecticut-

Local Episcopal lay leaders attempt to take over church in Darien

The Rt. Rev. Ian T. Douglas, Bishop Diocesan of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, and his staff learned tonight that some lay leaders of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Mansfield Avenue in Darien had called a locksmith to come earlier this afternoon to change the locks on the church without authorization, locking out the rector and effectively attempting to take over the church.

Their rector, the Rev. Canon George I. Kovoor, notified the Darien police and Bishop Douglas. The responding officers spoke with Bishop Douglas who provided the relevant secular case law, canon (church) law, and Letter of Employment for Canon Kovoor, demonstrating the authority of the Bishop Diocesan in any disputes between the vestry (elected lay leaders) and the rector.   

The June 12 action by the lay leaders grows out of a simmering conflict between the vestry of St. Paul’s and the duly elected rector of the parish, Canon George I. Kovoor.

More here-

 https://www.episcopalct.org/news/episcopal-lay-leaders-attempt-to-take-over-church-in-darien/