More than two years ago, Anglican Watch editor Eric Bonetti and another individual filed Title IV clergy disciplinary complaints against Dallas bishop George Sumner. The original filed by Bonetti was received by Bishop Todd Ousley, then the national intake officer for bishops, via email, who acknowledged receipt of the complaint. When that sailed off into oblivion, multiple follow-ups were sent, including to national intake officer Barb Kempf.
To date, the church has taken no action to address the complaint. That is unethical and undercuts the church’s claim to any moral authority.
As a result, a follow-up that was sent earlier today and copied both Todd Ousley and Bishop Nick Knisely, who chairs the disciplinary board for bishops. A copy of the email follows.
Among the allegations:
- Bishop George Sumner, acting in collusion with David Halt, the rector of St. James, Texarkana, engaged in retaliation against the Rev. Rich Daly for forwarding a Title IV complaint to the Diocese. Specifically, Sumner forced Daly from his job, later falsely telling parishioners that Daly had resigned.
- The Title IV complaint filed by Daly with the Diocese accurately alleged that former St. James rector Douglas Anderson sexually harassed an adult female who worked for a non-profit connected with the parish. At the time, Anderson was married and in a position of authority/control over the adult woman. Anderson had sexual contact with his victim.
- A subsequent anonymous Title IV complaint against Halt for his role in the retaliation was dismissed out of hand, and in violation of the provisions of Title IV, by Sumner.
- Sumner improperly brought the diocesan chancellor, a member of St. James, into the Title IV process. The chancellor acted unethically by assisting Sumner in the cover-up.
- Both sexual harassment and retaliation are expressly forbidden under the Title iV clergy disciplinary canons.
- David Halt continues to lie to parishioners about his actions, and that of Sumner,
- Despite a Title IV case against Anderson for lying about his actions in this matter — which he undeniably did — Sumner flew to Church of the Advent in Boston to preach at the church and provide implicit air cover to Anderson.
Anglican Watch rejects the Episcopal Church’s cover-up and stonewalling on this issue, including Massachusetts bishop Alan Gate’s efforts to sandbag and prolong the Title IV case against Anderson—which tellingly culminated the day after Anderson’s retirement vested.
Moreover, we call on Barb Kempf and other church officials to act with integrity, or resign. There is no excuse for sexual harassment or retaliation.
Finally, the Episcopal Church has some serious restitution that it owes to Fr. Rich Daly, a retired Chicago police officer with an impeccable record of personal and professional integrity.
A screen cap of our email follows:
Leave a Reply