East Haven pastor involved in sanctuary dispute with police resigns

First Conregational Church in East Haven First Conregational Church in East Haven Photo: Luther Turmelle / Hearst Connecticut Media Photo: Luther Turmelle / Hearst Connecticut Media Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close East Haven pastor involved in sanctuary dispute with police resigns 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

EAST HAVEN — A pastor who confronted police earlier this week after they arrested a domestic violence suspect inside First Congregational Church has resigned.

The Rev. Care Goodstal Spinks’ resignation comes after she confronted East Haven officers Tuesday, when they arrested 34-year-old Ryan Champlin inside the church; Champlin had gone to the church after he assaulted his 59-year-old mother in a domestic dispute, according to police. Spinks demanded officers release Champlin to her custody and told officers they had no right to arrest him inside the church, footage from a body camera worn by an officer showed.

Church leaders announced Thursday evening via a Facebook post that “Rev. Care is no longer employed by the Old Stone Church.”

“We would like to thank Rev. Care Goodstal Spinks for her spiritual guidance prior to this week's happenings,” the post said in part. “We are deeply saddened by the events that unfolded at the Old Stone Church on Tuesday January 23. The behavior and language on video by the Intentional Interim Pastor, do not necessarily express the opinions of the wider congregation.”

The post is signed by Heidi Manley, the church’s moderator, and Susan Clark, the vice moderator. Neither Manley nor Clark were at the church Friday afternoon.

The posting from the two church leaders thanks the police officers who arrested Champlin “for their calm yet swift actions on Tuesday.” The post also confirms that Champlin is a parishioner of the church.

Old Stone Church runs a day care, the Old Stone Playschool, in the same building as the church and the two leaders of the congregation leaders credit the arresting officers with “keeping in mind that school was in session, and the safety of students and staff was top priority.”

“We want to assure everyone, with confirmation from the teachers and directors, that at no time were the students or staff of our educational program in danger,” the church officials’ post says. “The incident happened during nap time and in the main office which is located at the opposite end of the building and not in the education wing. We would like to continue our good relationship with the police department and respect their position in the community.”

Spinks can be seen on the police video arguing with police that they had no right to arrest Champlin in the church building because it is a sanctuary.

Rabbi Herbert Brockman of Congregation Mishkan Israel in Hamden, who is among area religious leaders involved in an effort to provide sanctuary for undocumented immigrants being sought for deportation by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement, called Spinks’ actions “totally inappropriate” on Friday and said he was relieved to hear that she had chosen to resign.

“When I first heard about what she did, I was really upset because this has nothing at all to do with what the sanctuary effort is about,” Brockman said. “We support the police and I’m concerned what happened in East Haven gives us a bad name. ”

Brockman said a prerequisite for individuals seeking sanctuary in one of the half-dozen New Haven-area churches that have agreed to host undocumented immigrants is that the individuals “must not have committed any felonies.”

“That is part of the agreement with ICE,” he said. “What this movement is about is protecting innocent people, not people who are guilty.”

Currently, two individuals remain in sanctuary in area houses of worship, Brockman said. As many as six individuals have been provided sanctuary at any one time, he said.

luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com