VIA EMAIL
October 31, 2024
The Rt. Rev. Mary Gray-Reeves
The Rt. Rev. Clifton Daniel
The Rt. Rev. Dena Harrison
The Rt. Rev. James Mathes
The Rt. Rev. Scott Mayer
Presiding Bishops-Designate
The Rev. Mary Sulerud
Ms. Ana-Mita Betancourt
Intake Officers-Designate for Bishops
Dear Bishop Gray-Reeves, Bishop Daniel, Bishop Harrison, Bishop Mathes, Bishop Mayer, Reverend Sulerud, and Ms. Betancourt,
I am deeply grateful for the service each of you has provided the Church as Presiding Bishops-Designate and Intake Officers-Designate in Title IV matters involving Bishops.
I write now to inform you that beginning November 1, 2024, when I assume the role of Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, I plan to fulfill the Presiding Bishop’s role in all Title IV matters currently pending against Bishops. Likewise, the Rev. Barbara Kempf will fulfill the role of Intake Officer in all such matters as of that date.
Episcopal Church Canon IV.17.2.c provides that in Title IV matters involving allegations against Bishops the Presiding Bishop serves on the Reference Panel except when allegations are directed at him or her. Canon IV.19.14.a and Canon IV.19.24 describe additional circumstances when the Presiding Bishop’s Title IV functions may be carried out by another Bishop. Canon IV.17.2.b further provides that the Intake Officer for matters involving Bishops shall be appointed by the Presiding Bishop; and, under Canon IV.19.14.a, the Intake Officer’s functions similarly may be carried out by others under certain circumstances.
Over the past several years, each of you has served as Presiding Bishop-Designate or Intake Officer-Designate in Title IV matters involving allegations against Bishops. As to the Presiding Bishops-Designate, each of you has stepped in to fulfill the role of my predecessor, Bishop Curry, for a variety of reasons including Bishop Curry’s health (Canon IV.19.24), the potential for his impartiality to be questioned (Canon IV.19.14.a), and the inclusion of allegations against him (Canon IV.17.2). As to Intake Officers-Designate, each of you has stepped in to fulfill the role of Intake Officer in matters involving allegations against Bishop
Curry or Bishop Ousley, where Bishop Curry was the Intake Officer’s supervisor and Bishop Ousley worked closely with the Intake Officer in the Title IV intake process.
None of the reasons for recusal will remain after November 1 Once I occupy the Office of Presiding Bishop, I will be in a position to carry out fully that Office’s responsibility in Title IV matters. I am not subject to the same circumstances that led to Bishop Curry’s recusal. Moreover, because Bishop Curry will no longer be the Intake Officer’s supervisor and because Bishop Ousley’s role will be reconfigured away from the Title IV process, the Rev. Kempf can appropriately carry out the responsibilities of Intake Officer in the matters where Intake OfficersDesignate were needed.
The Rev. Kempf and Chancellor Mary Kostel are available to assist you in any steps necessary to transition these matters to my Office. Thank you for your cooperation in those efforts and thank you again for your faithful service in these roles.
Sincerely,
The Rt. Rev. Sean W. Rowe Presiding Bishop-Elect
The Episcopal Church
cc: The Rt. Rev. W. Nicholas Knisely, President, Disciplinary Board for Bishops
The Rev. Barbara Kempf, Intake Officer for Bishops
Mary E. Kostel, Chancellor to the Presiding Bishop