[Episcopal Church Officer of Public Affairs] A conciliation meeting concerning complaints involving the Episcopal Dioceses of Fort Worth and Quincy will be held on January 8 and 9 in Richmond, VA (Canon IV.10).
The proceedings are private and the content will be confidential.
The meeting concerns complaints from the Diocese of Quincy Standing Committee against Bishops Peter Beckwith (Springfield), Bruce MacPherson (Western Louisiana) and Edward Salmon (South Carolina), and from the Diocese of Fort Worth Standing Committee and an individual complainant against Bishops Maurice Benitez (Dallas), John Howe (Central Florida), Paul Lambert (Dallas), William Love (Albany), Daniel Martins (Springfield), Edward Salmon (South Carolina) and James Stanton (Dallas).
John G. Douglass will serve as conciliator for the meeting. He is a law professor and former dean of the T.C Williams Law School of the University of Richmond.
According to Canon IV.10, conciliation is not a trial but a form of mediation.
Participants will be one person from each of the Standing Committees of the Dioceses of Fort Worth and Quincy; the individual complainant; four representatives of the respondent bishops; three bishops appointed by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori; advisors to the complainants and respondents; and legal advisors.
Appointed by the presiding bishop to represent the House of Bishops are Bishops Mary Gray-Reeves of El Camino Real, Edward Little of Northern Indiana, and Michael Milliken of Western Kansas. (Canon IV.10.Sec 2).
No date has been established for the release of any information following the meeting.
Editor’s note: Prior Episcopal News Service coverage of the complaints is here:
- Fort Worth, Quincy seek affirmation of church’s ‘hierarchical character,’ request relates to court filings in property litigation
- Bishops express support for continuing dioceses
- Reference panel recommends conciliation with 9 bishops
Following the meeting, Bishop Bill Love of Albany messaged his diocese:
“For the past two days (Jan. 8 and 9), I have been participating in a conciliation meeting in accordance with Canon IV.10 in Richmond, VA, concerning complaints raised over an amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) brief that I was a signatory to along with six other bishops in April 2012, involving an ongoing court case in the Diocese of Fort Worth.
“We have reached an agreement in principle which resolves all the complaints brought against me and the other six respondent bishops named in the Fort Worth Complaint. In accordance with Canon IV.14.5, the terms of the Accord still have to be signed by all involved and are not final, thus remaining confidential until approved and released by the Presiding Bishop.
“I greatly appreciate the concern expressed regarding this issue and all the love, support and prayers offered on my behalf and the others involved in this process. As always I am humbled and honored to serve as the Bishop of Albany. May the Lord Jesus Christ bless, guide and lead us as we continue to go forth in His name.”
There have been no further updates to the diocese concerning the proceedings.