Bishop Changes Locks at Church; Sheriff makes him surrender keys

[k8conant]

On Friday, November 7, 2008, at 2:36 pm, Kathryn Conant called 911 because W. Michie Klusmeyer, Episcopal bishop of West Virginia, had illegally had the locks changed at Saint Andrew's-on-the-Mount Church, Mountain Mission, 65 Mission Rd, Harpers Ferry, WV, and its Mountain Community Center at 58 Mission Rd. Klusmeyer was present in the basement of the Community Center with John Maxey, a community resident. Klusmeyer was ordered by Cpl. Sell of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department and a deputy to change the locks back because he was not owner of record of the property. Klusmeyer turned over the keys to a trustee of Saint Andrew's-on-the-Mount, John E. Conant. It has been reported that Klusmeyer, of Charleston, WV, was accompanied on the church property by Melanie McCarley, rector of Zion Church, Charles Town, and another man.

[47of74]

1. What's going on?

[k8conant]

2. Klusmeyer thinks he can unilaterally dissolve the church without cause

and have the property "revert" to the diocese.

Wrong!