Diocese of Easton bishop Santosh Marray, the subject of multiple Title IV complaints, announced his resignation/retirement earlier today, effective in 2026. He served previously in the Seychelles.
Marray is the subject of multiple Title IV complaints, alleging abusive behavior and inappropriate comments towards LGBTQ+ clergy. Additionally, he allegedly violated mandatory confidentiality by identifying complainants in the Title IV cases against him, even as he threatened retaliation, which is expressly forbidden under church canons.
Anglican Watch has noted additional inappropriate behavior by Marray that strongly suggests he is a narcissist; the behavior is not part of the present Title IV complaints. This behavior involves claiming that complainants are “Trying to kill him” via their complaints and that the complainants are conspiring with Satan in their filing of the complaints.
The Title IV Disciplinary Committee for Bishops previously referred the complaints to mediation. Anglican Watch believes mediation is unlikely to be successful in light of Marray’s behavior.
Anglican Watch believes that Marray was, from the start, an unqualified candidate for bishop due to his stated support for an Anglican Covenant, which was an effort, now rejected, by GAFCON and other conservatives, to force the American, English, and Canadian provinces to adhere to their views regarding human sexuality. At the same time, Anglican Watch also rejects efforts to marginalize conservatives within the church, including over their opposition to same-sex marriage.
Anglican Watch is encouraged by the news and hopes that Marray’s departure, while too far out, marks a shift towards greater accountability for Episcopal bishops. For far too long, Ousley and his minions have made extraordinary efforts to protect the Episco-bros (and their sisters) from taking responsibility for their actions.
Moreover, far too many Episcopal bishops have refused to take action against clergy who engage in criminal conduct or otherwise flagrantly ignore church canons. Until this stops and the church takes a consistent approach to clergy discipline and accountability, the church will continue to shed revenue and members.
The need for Marray to leave sooner
In light of Marray’s severely impaired relationships with diocesan clergy, which result from his bullying and threatening behavior, Anglican Watch encourages the Easton standing committee to place Marray on sabbatical or otherwise limit his role in the diocese in the run-up to naming a bishop interim or pursuing a merger with another diocese. To do otherwise will result in additional trauma, both to the clergy involved, and to the Diocese, which is not well-served by Marray’s bullying behavior. Indeed, such behavior discredits both the the Diocese and its constituent parishes, and will almost certainly result in additional conflict within the Diocese.
We also hope that judicatories will pay careful attention to Marray’s “ordination lite” program, which appears to be filled with Marray sycophants.
We further note with concern the presence of former Episcopal priest Mark Hansen, who was defrocked over a variety of issues, including his opposition to same-sex marriage and questions about being absent from his calling without the approval of the bishop diocesan.
In other words, we are concerned that Marray appears to be trying to marginalize highly competent priests, even as he welcomes clergy with questionable track records.
We hope Marray will leave as bishop diocesan as quickly as possible and that the standing committee will pay closer attention to the backgrounds of future candidates. No one should be in the running who cannot wholeheartedly support all clergy in the diocese, including those who are openly LGBTQ+. Nor should anyone be seriously considered who supports, or supported, the proposal for an Anglican Covenant.
A copy of Marray’s letter, which will be read in parishes this Sunday, follows.
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