No longer in a class by himself, one bishop in the Anglican Church of Australia has joined another in being the recipient of charges of bullying and abuse.
Ross Davies, bishop of the Diocese of the Murray, has been handed charges including “emotional and verbal abuse and bullying” as well as protecting a former archdeacon, Peter Foote, who’s been off the job since being accused of sexual impropriety in 2008.
If that sounds vaguely familiar, it should. It’s yesterday’s news for the Diocese of Ballarat‘s bishop, Michael Hough, who’s been cooling his heels since having complaints of bullying and harassment filed against him by 13 clergy and lay people in 2008. (Hough appears to be in such a corner that last year he failed to call a synod council.)
However you slice it, none of this constitutes a short-term gain for Anglicans in Australia. It does mean, however, that a certain judicial instrument of the Anglican Church of Australia called the Episcopal Standards Commission does appear to be doing its job, even if it’s doing so at a turtle’s pace. The Church’s Complaint Investigation Procedure appears to be getting a workout, so policy has hit the ground and procedure is engaged.