The Bishop and Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine released a statement today regarding a complaint against one of the nominees for Bishop, the Rev. Canon Anne Mallonee, who currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Ecclesiastical Officer of The Church Pension Group. Although the complaint was investigated and dismissed, the person who filed the complaint has thirty days to appeal the decision and this window extends beyond the Electing Convention, which will take place this Saturday, February 9.
The full text of the statement as well as the Rev. Cn. Mallonee’s response can be found below.
A Statement from the Bishop and Standing Committee
On Wednesday, January 30, 2019, the Bishop and Standing Committee received information regarding one of our nominees for bishop, the Rev. Canon Anne Mallonee.
It was alleged that the Rev. Canon Mallonee failed to report the sexual abuse of a student by another priest when the Rev. Canon Mallonee was Chaplain at the University of Kansas in the late 1980’s. The Diocese of New York, which has jurisdiction in this matter, has determined that the facts of the matter do not support the allegation, and the Intake Officer of New York has dismissed the complaint. Under our canons, the person who brought the complaint has thirty (30) days to appeal, and the appeal period will overlap our Electing Convention by several weeks.
As it stands now, there is currently no charge against the Rev. Canon Mallonee, and she remains on the ballot. We believe that we need to report to the Electing Convention the possibility of an appeal. In preparing this statement, the Bishop and Standing Committee have conferred with the Bishop for Pastoral Development and the nominee.
The Rt. Rev. Stephen T. Lane, Bishop of Maine
The Rev. Maria Hoecker, President of the Standing Committee
The Rev. Sarah Gavit, Ms. Brenda Hamilton, The Rev. Timothy Higgins Mr. Douglas Mayer, Mr. Charles Priest, Members of the Standing Committee
Statement from the Rev. Cn. Anne Mallonee
I commend the decision for full transparency that your Bishop and Standing Committee have made on this matter. I am grateful for the dismissal by the Diocese of New York.
The Episcopal Church has made an important commitment to address past misconduct -‐‑-‐‑ arising from the #MeToo movement -‐‑-‐‑ and to transform our Church into a safer place for all. As a priest I fully embrace this commitment.
Blessings,
Anne+