Seattle bishop suspended: The Church of England Newspaper, Oct 7 , 2011 p 6.

Bishop Vincent Warner

First printed in The Church of England Newspaper.

An American bishop has been suspended from exercising his priestly ministry pending investigation of charges he had committed adultery.

On 30 September the bishop of the Seattle-based Diocese of Olympia announced that in light of a “credible allegation of recurrent marital infidelity,” the ministry of his predecessor, the Rt Rev Vincent Warner, had been restricted by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori.

“I first heard the allegations several weeks ago, and promptly reported them to the Presiding Bishop’s office, which is the procedure required by the canons of the Episcopal Church,” said Olympia Bishop Gregory Rickel. On 26 September, “I received word that Bishop Jefferts Schori had restricted Bishop Warner’s ministry.”

Bishop Rickel stated the allegations of misconduct did not concern minors nor with individuals who were receiving pastoral care from the bishop. Under the Episcopal Church’s newly revised disciplinary canons an investigation will be conducted and a “restriction will remain in place until the matter is resolved following procedures outlined in Title IV of the canons of the Episcopal Church.

“In these proceedings, the Diocese of Olympia’s role is limited to providing information requested by an investigator who is chosen by and works on behalf of the Presiding Bishop’s office.”

Bishop Warner served as head of the Western Washington state diocese from 1989 to 2007. At his 2002 diocesan convention, the bishop announced he was divorcing his wife of 40 years, and shortly after remarried.

The bishop made news in 2007 when a priest working in his diocese, the Rev Ann Holmes Redding, announced that she was a Christian and a Muslim. Bishop Warner told the Seattle Times he accepted Ms Redding as an Episcopal priest and a Muslim, and found the interfaith possibilities “exciting”. However, the Bishop of Rhode Island who held oversight over Ms Redding subsequently deposed her from the ministry.

In his letter to the diocese announcing the suspension, Bishop Rickel urged “clergy and lay leaders to reach out to those whom they believe might need support during this time,” and to “say your prayers for all involved, for this diocese, and especially for Bishop Warner and his family.”