August 4, 2023
Mr. David Duggan 3108 N. Southport Ave., Coachhouse Chicago, IL 60657Dear Mr. Duggan,
I am writing to let you know of the decision of the Title IV Reference Panel regarding your complaint against The Rev’d Will Bouvel.
After an initial investigation completed by our outside investigator, the Reference Panel asked for further investigation. Upon receiving the second report, the Reference Panel found that while The Rev’d Bouvel may have shared some incorrect information with the judge during the hearing to obtain an emergency order of protection, we believed he shared what he either knew or believed to be true.
Father Bouvel was aware that there had been an incident at The Church of the Ascension between you and the Junior Warden that resulted in an injury and that you had been asked to leave Ascension. He was also aware that you had met with The Rev’d Wes Smedley when you began attending St. Chrysostom’s to discuss expected standards of behavior while there. There was a written document guiding that conversation, though The Rev’d Smedley did not ask you to sign it.
While we appreciate that this entire situation has been upsetting and stressful for all parties involved and that you feel hurt by the Church and some of her clergy, we have found no evidence of malice or intentional misleading of the court by Father Bouvel.
Therefore, after much deliberation, the Reference Panel has decided to take no other action on this matter other than continuing to offer pastoral support.
Faithfully,
Marion E Phipps+The Rev. Marion E. Phipps
E-Mailed to Mr. David Duggan on this Fourth day of August 2023.
Cc: The Rt. Rev.’d Paula Clark, Bishop Diocesan
The Rev.‘d Suzanne Willie, Intake Officer, The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago
The Rev.’d James Alan, Advisor to Complainant
The Rev.’d Will Bouvel