Episcopal Press and News
Study Finds Destructive Patterns and No Grounds for Removal of Bishop in New Jersey
Episcopal News Service. June 23, 1998 [98-2186]
(ENS) The bishop appointed to examine the conflict in the Diocese of New Jersey presented his report to the Diocesan Council May 21, concluding that opponents of Bishop Joe Morris Doss have engaged in a pattern of false allegations, rumor and distortions in their attempts to force his resignation.
After his seven months in the diocese as a "mentor bishop," appointed by former Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning, Bishop George Hunt said that he had never seen a "more convoluted or complicated" situation. While the conflict is "enormously complex," with deep roots in the past, Hunt said that he "couldn't find anything of substance on which Doss could be held accountable, nothing to justify attempts to force the bishop's resignation." He added, "It is clear that the bishop won't resign so the question now is how we find a new working relationship."
Doss has been under fire since shortly after his election in 1994 for attempts to make some changes in what a consultant called "a quiet, in-grown, parochial and conservative" diocese that is riddled with divisions."
Both the Standing Committee and the Diocesan Council asked the bishop to resign in October 1977, claiming that he was largely responsible for the "pain, conflict and mistrust that besets our diocese." Last April, the newly elected committee and council repeated their opposition to the bishop.
In his report, Hunt dealt directly with allegations that Doss had been insensitive to the Black Caucus, that he had arbitrarily "fired" the whole staff in the spring of 1995, and that he had abused his discretionary fund. It was more difficult to deal with criticisms about Doss' "style of leadership," Hunt said, adding that he had urged Doss to sharpen his skills in "active listening."
"While recognizing that Bishop Doss has made some mistakes during his episcopate, it seems clear to me that he has also become the scapegoat for a number of problems which are not of his own making," said Hunt, the retired bishop of Rhode Island, in his conclusion. "There are also indications that a number of diocesan leaders have abandoned a tenet which lies at the heart of the Gospel-that reconciliation is always possible if the parties will submit their wills to the will of Christ."
Although "the current situation would seem to be almost untenable," Hunt expressed his hope that all parties involved could find a way "to work together with some semblance of harmony I have hope that the newly elected Diocesan Council may be ready to make such a recommitment, and Bishop Doss has indicated his willingness to look for ways to begin anew. Failing such a new beginning, I fear the ministry of the whole diocese will be hobbled for the foreseeable future."
Hunt was even stronger in presenting the report to the council, making it clear what he thought was at stake. "The path you are on leads to death," he warned. "If you continue to pursue it, it leads to the death of the diocese."
"The diocese is a large and most complex entity," according to Hunt. The present problems did not occur overnight and they will not be resolved overnight. Neither will they be resolved by the forced resignation of the bishop. However if all the parties are willing to try again, and do so in good faith, this community of faith can once more be a vibrant vehicle for the Good News."
There were no signs that attempts to put financial pressure on Doss by withholding funds and cutting the budget for his office would end soon. At the same time that the council accepted the Hunt report it tried to cut financial support for travel by Doss to the House of Bishops meeting and the Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops. An attempt to eliminate a staff position was ruled out of order.