Statement issued November 11, 1996, by Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning in reponse to allegations about sexual misconduct in the Diocese of Long Island

A Statement by the Presiding Bishop

The allegations in a recent magazine article concerning events within the Diocese of Long Island, if true, are outrageous. I, along with persons of all faiths, deplore sexual exploitation and abuse of any kind.

As some in the church may not know, the role of the Presiding Bishop in the affairs of a diocese is largely a pastoral one. I have endeavored, nevertheless, to exercise my pastoral authority in this matter with care and concern. Since the publication of this article, my staff and I have been in frequent contact with the Bishop of Long Island, the Rt. Rev. Orris G. Walker, Jr., and other lay and clergy leaders, and have made a number of suggestions concerning appropriate diocesan response.

I can now report to you that the allegations are being addressed by the diocese in the following ways. The priest from the Diocese of Long Island mentioned by name in the article has resigned his rectorship and is under discipline. The Diocese of Long Island, in their convention of November 9, voted to support a full investigation in which the Standing Committee will play an important role. Bishop Walker will ask Bishop O'Kelley Whitaker, retired Bishop of Central New York, to head up the investigation, and funding has been appropriated for retaining independent counsel to assist. I fully support these actions of the bishop and elected clergy and lay leaders of the Diocese.

I would like to note that members of our church have expressed sorrow that the term of a former member of our staff, the Rev. Howard Williams, who has done much good work on our behalf, came to such an unfortunate conclusion when I asked for his resignation. Though his involvement was noted as tangential in the magazine article that included the allegations, Howard and I agreed that, given the circumstances, his ministry had been so compromised that it was impossible for him to continue in his position.

I also deplore the fact that these allegations are being seized on by some to inflame and polarize the ongoing already difficult discussion within our church about the responsible, proper, and holy expression of sexuality. The alleged actions in Long Island are clearly outside acceptable parameters, and should not be confused with our ongoing struggles about sexuality. Attempts to link the two bring negative attention to our church and pain to our gay and lesbian members. We must clearly differentiate between issues of sexual abuse and exploitation, and sexual orientation.

The debates in our church are ongoing, as indeed they are in all churches and in our society. We can give thanks that, for the most part, our church is conducting these debates in ways that help us to discern God's will. While the debate continues in areas of disagreement, we can all agree to certain important things, among them: the dignity of every person must be respected, and exploitation and abuse of any kind in any situation are sinful and must not be condoned; our church has clear and stated boundaries of clergy sexual behavior; the sanctity of marriage must be upheld; people who take seriously the authority of scripture do not agree on what constitutes responsible and holy sexuality.

In the larger context it should be noted that our church has been working for many years on issues of sexual exploitation and abuse. Clear policy statements and definitions have been developed by the Committee on Sexual Exploitation and received by the General Convention in 1994. Resources have been developed for dioceses to respond to these tragedies when they occur, and most if not all dioceses have addressed the issue of sexual exploitation and developed their own very clear guidelines. The Episcopal Church has been considered pro- active in this area, rather than being merely passive or solely reactive.

It is my prayer that, through the power of the Spirit, this painful situation might serve as an opportunity for us as a church to reaffirm our commitment to continue approaching the subject of human sexuality in all its complex aspects in openness, in faith in Godþs guidance of our church, and in respect for the dignity of every human being.

The Most Rev. Edmond L. Browning
Presiding Bishop
November 11, 1996