Updated files: Information regarding a clergy disciplinary matter

A clergy disciplinary matter in ECCT is before a Hearing Panel. The clergy disciplinary process is set out in the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church. All dioceses are required to follow these processes.

Members of the Hearing Panel are the Rev. Joseph Shepley (President), The Rev. Louise Kalemkerian, and Mr. Thomas Smith. Pursuant to Canon IV.13.3 of the Canons of The Episcopal Church, the Hearing Panel is required to make “broadly known to members of the Church and Church media” all documents filed with or issued by the Hearing Panel. Recent documents include the following and are linked below, if you would like to attend a Hearing Panel Session, please reach out to Alison Hollo at ahollo@episcopalct.org. Deadline for requesting the zoom information will be 5:00 pm 2 business days prior to the Hearing Panel date (i.e. if the hearing panel is on Tuesday, requests must be made by 5pm on Friday afternoon):

Updated Monday, September 11, 2023

• Proposed 2^nd Revised Draft Scheduling Order for Samuel v. ECCT

Updated Friday, June 16, 2023

• JOINTLY PROPOSED REVISED SCHEDULING ORDER

Updated Friday, April 14, 2023

• OPINION OF HEARING PANEL ON THE MOTION OF THE RESPONDENT REV. SAMUEL TO DISMISS THIS MATTER OR ALTERNATIVELY TO RETURN THE MATTER TO THE INTAKE STAGE OR ALTERNATIVELY TO COMPEL ECCT TO PROVIDE MORE SPECIFIC RESPONSES TO MANDATORY DISCLOSURES AND TO ENTER A REVISED SCHEDULING PLAN AND DISCOVERY ORDER

Updated Wednesday, April 5, 2023

• RESPONDENT’S SUPPLEMENTAL MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF RESPONDENT’S MOTION TO DISMISS et al

Updated Monday, April 3, 2023

• OPINION OF HEARING PANEL ON THE MOTION OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN CONNECTICUT TO REDACT VARIOUS NAMES AND IDENTIFYING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN RESPONDENT’S SUPPLEMENTAL MEMORANUM IN SUPPORT OF HIS MOTION TO DISMISS AND FOR OTHER RELIEF

Updated Wednesday, March 8, 2023

• EIGHTH AMENDED NOTICE OF SCHEDULING FOR HEARING ON MOTION BY THE RESPONDENT THE REV. SAMUEL TO DISMISS FOR CANONICAL VIOLATIONS DURING ALL STAGES OF TITLE IV PROCESS OR ALTERNATIVELY RETURNING THE TITLE IV PROCESS TO INTAKE WITH NEW PANELS AND WITHOUT INTERFERENCE BY THE FORMER BISHOP OR THE DIOCESAN PASTORAL RESPONSE AND DISCIPINARY RESOURCE OFFICER OR ALTERNATIVELY FOR AN ORDER TO COMPEL MANDATORY DISCLOSURES AND FOR ENTRY OF THE REVISED SCHEDULING PLAN AND DISCOVERY ORDER SUBMITTED JOINTLY BY RESPONDENT AND ECCT ON OCTOBER 14, 2022 

Updated Wednesday, February 22, 2023

• Notice of Schedule for Hearing of Motion by ECCT to redact names and identifying information from respondent Samuel’s supplemental memorandum support of motion to dismiss, et. al. and exhibits attached thereto

Updated Wednesday, February 15, 2023

• Respondent Rev. Samuel’s Exhibits in Support of Motion to Dismiss et al B00203-B0467 REDACTED as Proposed by ECCT
• Respondent’s Supplemental Memorandum in Support of Respondent’s Motion to Dismiss et al
• Respondent Rev. Samuel’s Exhibits in Support of Motion to Dismiss et al B0003-B00038 – REDACTED as Proposed by ECCT
• The Episcopal Church in Connecticut’s Motion to Redact Names and Identifying Information
• Respondent Rev Samuel’s Exhibits in Support of Motion to Dismiss et al B00039-B00125 – REDACTED as Proposed by ECCT
• Notice of Schedule for Hearing of Motion by ECCT to Redact Names and Identifying Information

Updated Tuesday, February 14, 2023

• Seventh Amended Notice of Scheduling Motion to Dismiss

Updated Thursday, February 9, 2023

• Opinion of Hearing Panel on the Motion of the Respondent Rev. Samuel to Disqualify Hearing Panel President the Rev. Joseph Shepley

Updated Wednesday, February 1, 2023

• Respondent’s Reply to the Church Attorney’s Opposition } to Respondent’s Motion to Disqualify The Hearing V Panel President The Reverend Joseph Shepley THE REVEREND AMJAD SAMUEL Or Alternatively, for The Reverend Joseph Shepley RESPONDENT To Recuse himself from this Title IV Matter

Updated Saturday, January 21, 2023

• SIXTH AMENDED NOTICE OF SCHEDULING FOR HEARING ON MOTION BY THE RESPONDENT THE REV. SAMUEL TO DISMISS FOR CANONICAL VIOLATIONS DURING ALL STAGES OF TITLE IV PROCESS OR ALTERNATIVELY RETURNING THE TITLE IV PROCESS TO INTAKE WITH NEW PANELS AND WITHOUT INTERFERENCE BY THE FORMER BISHOP OR THE DIOCESAN PASTORAL RESPONSE AND DISCIPINARY RESOURCE OFFICER OR ALTERNATIVELY FOR AN ORDER TO COMPEL MANDATORY DISCLOSURES AND FOR ENTRY OF THE REVISED SCHEDULING PLAN AND DISCOVERY ORDER SUBMITTED JOINTLY BY RESPONDENT AND ECCT ON OCTOBER 14, 2022

Updated Friday, January 20, 2023

• THIRD NOTICE OF SCHEDULING FOR HEARING OF MOTION BY THE RESPONDENT THE REV. SAMUEL TO DISQUALFY PRESIDENT THE REV. SHEPLEY FROM SERVING ON HEARING PANEL OR ALTERNATIVELY FOR SELF-RECUSAL.

Updated Friday, January 6, 2023

• SECOND NOTICE OF SCHEDULING FOR HEARING OF MOTION BY THE RESPONDENT THE REV. SAMUEL TO DISQUALFY PRESIDENT THE REV. SHEPLEY FROM SERVING ON HEARING PANEL OR ALTERNATIVELY FOR SELF-RECUSAL.

Updated Thursday, January 5, 2023

• FIFTH AMENDED NOTICE OF SCHEDULING FOR HEARING ON MOTION BY THE RESPONDENT THE REV. SAMUEL TO DISMISS FOR CANONICAL VIOLATIONS DURING ALL STAGES OF TITLE IV PROCESS OR ALTERNATIVELY RETURNING THE TITLE IV PROCESS TO INTAKE WITH NEW PANELS AND WITHOUT INTERFERENCE BY THE FORMER BISHOP OR THE DIOCESAN PASTORAL RESPONSE AND DISCIPINARY RESOURCE OFFICER OR ALTERNATIVELY FOR AN ORDER TO COMPEL MANDATORY DISCLOSURES AND FOR ENTRY OF THE REVISED SCHEDULING PLAN AND DISCOVERY ORDER SUBMITTED JOINTLY BY RESPONDENT AND ECCT ON OCTOBER 14, 2022

Updated Tuesday, January 3, 2023

• FOURTH AMENDED NOTICE OF SCHEDULING FOR HEARING ON MOTION BY THE RESPONDENT THE REV. SAMUEL TO DISMISS FOR CANONICAL VIOLATIONS DURING ALL STAGES OF TITLE IV PROCESS OR ALTERNATIVELY RETURNING THE TITLE IV PROCESS TO INTAKE WITH NEW PANELS AND WITHOUT INTERFERENCE BY THE FORMER BISHOP OR THE DIOCESAN PASTORAL RESPONSE AND DISCIPINARY RESOURCE OFFICER OR ALTERNATIVELY FOR AN ORDER TO COMPEL MANDATORY DISCLOSURES AND FOR ENTRY OF THE REVISED SCHEDULING PLAN AND DISCOVERY ORDER SUBMITTED JOINTLY BY RESPONDENT AND ECCT ON OCTOBER 14, 2022

Updated Wednesday, December 14, 2022

• Respondent’s Reply to the Church Attorney’s Opposition to Respondent’s Motion for the Hearing Panel to enter an Order Dismissing This Title IV Matter entirely based upon the irreparable harm caused to Respondent by the multiple Canonical Violations Committed at every single stage of the Title IV process making it impossible for Respondent to get a fair Hearing; or alternatively returning this Title IV Matter to the Intake stage to have a proper investigator appointed in Accordance with the Canons with new Panels and without interference by  RESPONDENT Bishop Ian Douglas and/or Robin Hammeal-Urban; If the foregoing is not granted then Respondent Seeks an Order to Compel Church Attorney to Produce the Required Mandatory Disclosures Pursuant to Canon IV.13.5a and for the Hearing Panel President to Sign and Enter the Revised Scheduling Plan and Discovery Order Submitted Jointly by Respondent’s Counsel and the Church Attorney on October 14, 2022 (REDACTED 3)

Updated Tuesday, December 13, 2022

• Respondent’s Motion to Disqualify V The Hearing Panel President The Reverend Joseph Shepley THE REVEREND AMJAD SAMUEL Or Alternatively, for The Reverend Joseph Shepley RESPONDENT } To Recuse himself from this Title IV Matter

Updated Friday, December 9, 2022

• Respondent’s Motion to Disqualify V The Hearing Panel President The Reverend Joseph Shepley THE REVEREND AMJAD SAMUEL Or Alternatively, for The Reverend Joseph Shepley RESPONDENT To Recuse himself from this Title IV Matter
• Respondent’s REVISED REDACTED.3 Motion to Disqualify Hearing Panel President Rev. Joseph Shepley
• Respondent’s Reply to  the Church Attorney’s Opposition to Respondent’s Motion for the Hearing Panel to enter THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN  an Order Dismissing This Title IV Matter entirely   CONNECTICUT based upon the irreparable harm caused to Respondent by the multiple Canonical Violations Committed at every single stage of the Title IV V process making it impossible for Respondent to get a fair Hearing; or alternatively returning this Title IV THE REVEREND AMJAD SAMUEL Matter to the Intake stage to have a proper investigator appointed in Accordance with the Canons with new Panels and without interference by  RESPONDENT Bishop Ian Douglas and/or Robin Hammeal-Urban; If the foregoing is not granted then Respondent Seeks an Order to Compel Church Attorney to Produce the Required Mandatory Disclosures Pursuant to Canon IV.13.5a and for the Hearing Panel President to Sign and Enter the Revised Scheduling Plan and Discovery Order Submitted Jointly by Respondent’s Counsel and the Church Attorney on October 14, 2022

Updated Thursday, December 8, 2022

• Respondent’s Motion for the Hearing Panel to enter THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN   CONNECTICUT V a an Order Dismissing This Title IV Matter entirely based upon the irreparable harm caused to Respondent by the multiple Canonical Violations Committed at every single stage of the Title IV process making it impossible for Respondent to get fair Hearing; or alternatively returning this Title IV THE REVEREND AMJAD SAMUEL Matter to the Intake stage to have a proper investigator appointed in Accordance with the Canons Canons with new Panels and without interference by RESPONDENT Bishop Ian Douglas and/or Robin Hammeal-Urban; If the foregoing is not granted then Respondent Seeks an Order to Compel Church Attorney to Produce the Required Mandatory Disclosures }Pursuant to Canon IV.13.5a and for the Hearing Panel President to Sign and Enter the Revised Scheduling Plan and Discovery Order Submitted Jointly by Respondent’s Counsel and the Church Attorney on October 14, 2022
• Respondent’s Reply to the Church Attorney’s Opposition to Respondent’s Motion for the Hearing Panel to enter THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN an Order Dismissing This Title IV Matter entirely   CONNECTICUT based upon the irreparable harm caused to Respondent by the multiple Canonical Violations      Committed at every single stage of the Title IV   V process making it impossible for Respondent to get a      fair Hearing; or alternatively returning this Title IV THE REVEREND AMJAD SAMUEL Matter to the Intake stage to have a proper investigator appointed in Accordance with the Canons with new Panels and without interference by  RESPONDENT  Bishop Ian Douglas and/or Robin Hammeal-Urban; If the foregoing is not granted then Respondent  Seeks an Order to Compel Church Attorney to Produce the Required Mandatory Disclosures Pursuant to Canon IV.13.5a and for the Hearing Panel President to Sign and Enter the Revised Scheduling Plan and Discovery Order Submitted }Jointly by Respondent’s Counsel and the Church Attorney on October 14, 2022

Updated Thursday, December 1, 2022

• Second Amended Notice of Scheduling of Motion to Dismiss and other Relief
• Reply Brief of Rev. Samuel REVISED – REDACTED

Updated Wednesday, November 23, 2022

• Opinion of Hearing Panel (Disqualification)

Updated Friday, November 18, 2022

• Amended Notice of Scheduling for Motion to Dismiss et. al
• ECCT Opposition
• Respondent’s Reply to Church Attorney’s Opposition to Respondent’s Motion to Disqualify Hearing Panel Member Mr. Tom Smith or Alternatively for Mr. Smith to rescue himself

Updated Friday, November 11, 2022

• The Episcopal Church in CT Opposition to Respondent’s Motion to Disqualify Hearing Panel Member Tom Smith or Alternatively for Mr. Smith to Recuse Himself from this Title IV Matter

Updated Friday November 4, 2022

• Respondent’s Motion for the Hearing Panel to enter an Order Dismissing This Title IV Matter entirely based upon the irreparable harm caused to Respondent by the multiple Canonical Violations Committed at every single stage of the Title IV process making it impossible for Respondent to get a fair Hearing; or alternatively returning this Title IV Matter to the Intake stage to have a proper investigator appointed in Accordance with the Canons with new Panels and without interference by Bishop Ian Douglas and/or Robin Hammeal-Urban; If the foregoing is not granted then Respondent Seeks an Order to Compel Church Attorney to Produce the Required Mandatory Disclosures Pursuant to Canon IV.13.5a and for the Hearing Panel President to Sign and Enter the Revised Scheduling Plan and Discovery Order Submitted Jointly by Respondent’s Counsel and the Church Attorney on October 14, 2022
• Respondent Rev. Samuel Motion Exhibits 1-14 
• Respondent Rev. Samuel Motion Exhibits 15-28
• Respondent Rev. Samuel Motion Exhibits 29-41 REDACTED

Updated Friday, October 28, 2022

• Respondent’s Motion to Disqualify Hearing Panel Member Tom Smith or Alternatively, for Mr. Smith To Recuse Himself from this Title IV Matter

• Notice of Schedule for Hearing on Motion by the Respondent to Disqualify Hearing Panel Member

• Amended Notice of Schedule for Hearing on Motion by the Respondent to Compel Discovery and by Respondent and ECCT for an Extension of Discovery

Updated Thursday, October 6, 2022:

• Notice of Schedule for Hearing of Motion
• Opinion of Hearing Panel (Redacted)

Updated Wednesday, September 28, 2022:

• Zoom Credentials Information for Oral Argument

Updated Monday, September 19, 2022:

• Respondent’s Response to the Church Attorney’s Motion (Redacted)
• Respondent’s Supplemental Response to the Church Attorney’s Motion (Redacted)
• ECCT’s Response to Respondent’s Opposition (Redacted)

Originally posted August 22, 2022:

• Notice of Motion
• Scheduling Order (Redacted)
• Church Attorney’s Motion seeking Redaction (Redacted)

Updated Wednesday, March 4, 2022

• Church Attorney Statement of Offenses
• Notice of Hearing Panel Proceedings
• Respondent’s Response to Statement of Alleged Offenses

As this is a pending matter, additional documents will be made known to the Church as they are filed with or created by the Hearing Panel. 

Please pray for all those impacted by this matter.

Information on the Clergy Discipline Process can be found on the website of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut here and at TitleIV.org.