As we watch the Episcopal Church plunging toward oblivion, we ask the question, “Why doesn’t the church do something?” ‘ The answer, we believe, can be found at the parish level. Specifically, very few Episcopal parishes are spiritually healthy. And those that are unhealthy rarely recognize they are unwell. Indeed, it was not long ago…
It’s been roughly a year since things unraveled at St. Paul’s, Montvale, NJ, thanks to the abusive behavior of a group of dissidents led by Jeff Piatt and Beth Abrahamson. This post examines where the situation is now and explores bishop Carlye Hughes’ dismal handling of the situation. Background By way of background, a review of…
For some time, Anglican Watch has followed the dismal conduct of a group of dissident parishioners at St. Paul’s, Montvale NJ. The group, whose leaders appear to have been using the church to engage in tax fraud and money laundering, engaged in a series of lies, picketing, and other conduct intended to undercut the church and its…
Pastor Jill Williams has left St. Paul’s Montvale. That’s a pity, because she is probably the best priest we’ve met. And given our dubious view of Planet Episcopal, we don’t say that lightly.
The St. Paul’s Montvale dissidents have again made a mess of things, even as they continue to display a remarable lack of insight. That’s the word of court officials and others close to the matter, following an abortive effort at court-ordered mediation. ”The dissidents just don’t get it. They think mediation involves them getting what…
It’s been a while since we posted about St. Paul’s Montvale, as we wanted to avoid tramping on any judicial toes while litigation is under way. With that in mind, we have a couple of updates. Heterophobia lawsuit First, Rusty Miller’s “heterophobia” lawsuit, aka “The Dumbest Lawsuit Ever Filed,” has been dismissed. No surprise there,…
Anglican Watch has learned from well-placed sources that a member of the dissident faction has put out feelers to members of St. Paul’s parish in Montvale, N.J., seeking an end to the ongoing investigation into past financial activity at the parish. Gene Muller, a previous member of the church and former vestry member, allegedly has contacted…
For those of you who don’t like Montvale contractor Joseph Wahler’s sexist, homophobic and violent remarks, here’s your chance to deploy a little of that cancel culture he decries in his posts about St. Paul’s Episcopal priest Jill Williams. Wahler’s on Facebook here, and we have a logo to use as we transition work towards…
One of the interesting characters among the St. Paul’s dissidents is MarK Denbeaux. What makes him intriguing is the juxtaposition between his legal career, which includes his work on civil rights, his efforts on behalf of Guantanamo Bay detainees, and his exploration of First Amendment issues; and his seeming cluelessness in the matter of St….
Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. Proverbs 17:9 Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down. Proverbs 26:20 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 It’s interesting. The Bible…
Anglican Watch has learned from a reliable source that there has been a criminal referral involving the conflict at St. Paul’s, Montvale. The referral involves potentially illegal conduct by Jeff Piatt and Beth Abrahamson, including possible tax evasion, money laundering, and theft of church financial records. The referral also references Montvale Landscaping. While we cannot predict…
Editor: Moments ago we received confirmation that criminal complaints were filed for defiant trespass against 11 of the dissidents. Penalties under New Jersey law may include up to 30 days in jail, a fine of $500, and long-term loss of one’s driver’s license. The likelihood of imprisonment increases if there are additional violations. Additionally, conviction…
This week, we see more dishonesty coming from Steven Hopper and the other dissidents with ties to St. Paul’s, Montvale NJ. Over the past week, Anglican Watch has continued our investigation of this situation, which involves protesters outside St. Paul’s, ad hominem attacks on Pastor Jill and the parish, myriad fabrications by the protestors, and homophobic hatred…
Following the recent removal of church financial records from the premises, St. Paul’s Montvale has brought in an auditor to conduct an independent review of church finances. The auditor, who has expertise in corporate and non-profit investigations, has successfully led numerous cases to prosecution. This initiative does not mean that criminal conduct or misfeasance has…
In a prior article on the situation at St. Paul’s, Montvale, Virginia “Ginny” Bartlett posted a comment that claimed that Pastor Jill was abusive in an email exchange with her. For clarification, below are: Ginny’s comment. Ginny’s email (edited only to remove her full email address). Pastor Jill’s response. Anglican Watch’s closing comments. To be clear,…
The old saying about “where there’s smoke there’s fire” is only partially true. Where there is smoke, there may not be a fire, but something’s afoot and it’s worth taking a closer look — and damned quick. That is the case with St. Paul’s. Church conflict is normative, and it is well established that The…