wfn.org | Episcopalians: Tampa rector renounces orders to join AMiA

[dmack@episcopalchurch.org]

April 23, 2002

2002-102

Episcopalians: Tampa rector renounces orders to join AMiA

by Jim DeLa

(ENS) The rector of a fast-growing parish in Tampa, Florida, 
involved in a bitter dispute with the Diocese of Southwest 
Florida, is leaving the Episcopal Church and starting a new 
congregation affiliated with the Anglican Mission in America.

At least 200 of the 500-member congregation of St. Marys 
Episcopal Church are expected to follow the Rev. Kevin F. Donlon 
in walking away from a $10 million sanctuary and day school 
renovation, completed just two months ago.

Donlon renounced his ordination vows in a letter to Bishop 
John B. Lipscomb dated April 21. In a statement released April 
22, Lipscomb acknowledged receipt of the letter and said 
procedures to remove Donlon from the Episcopal priesthood are 
underway. Lipscomb also said disciplinary proceedings against 
Donlon have been halted. 

The Bishop and the Diocese of Southwest Florida continue to 
pray for and work towards healing of the congregation of St. 
Marys and the rebuilding of the life of this important 
congregation in our faith community, the statement said.

Until an interim rector is found, the Rev. William McLean 
serve the parish as a visiting priest, spending three days a 
week at St. Marys. McLean said one of his main priorities will 
be to fill the church. Were going to have to go after new 
members. Were going to have to start over again, he said.

Allegations stun congregation

In February, eight members of the congregation, including the 
senior warden, filed 26 pages of allegations against Donlon. The 
charges, which have only now become public, included allegations 
of an inappropriate supervisory relationship with a former staff 
member, abusive conduct toward staff members, inappropriate 
interaction with members of the parish community, a conflict 
with the headmaster of an elite day school affiliated with the 
parish, and the unauthorized disclosure of privileged 
communications. 

After the allegations were filed, Lipscomb issued a temporary 
inhibition against Donlon and referred the case to the diocesan 
standing committee for review. Hundreds of parishioners 
protested Lipscombs actions by walking out of the church during 
his sermon at St. Marys the following Sunday. 

The congregation was further angered when the diocese, citing 
church canons regarding confidentiality in disciplinary matters, 
refused to discuss the case with them. Lack of information 
fueled speculation about the case, which was covered extensively 
by Tampa Bay-area newspapers and television stations.

Through it all, Donlon has steadfastly denied any wrongdoing 
and until now was preparing for the possibility of an 
ecclesiastical trial.

Spiritual terroristsDonlon announced his plans to about 200 
parishioners April 21 at the Tampa Women's Club. Many of those 
in attendance were expected to join the new congregation, named 
the Church of the Resurrection, which will worship at the 
Women's Club, a few miles from his former parish.

In a six-page explanation of his decision, Donlon described 
his accusers as spiritual terrorists imposing ill will upon a 
Christian community. Donlon wrote that he realized the 
disciplinary process is fatally flawed and that the indicators 
are that fairness and justice are unlikely. 

Donlon had a chance to defend himself in a March 4 meeting 
with Lipscomb and the Standing Committee, which had the 
authority to lift Donlon's temporary inhibition. In that 
hearing, Donlon and his attorney, Charles Nalls, presented more 
than 100 pages of testimony from witnesses refuting the charges.

Nalls, ordained a deacon in the Anglican Province of Christ 
the King--a "continuing Anglican" group--is executive director 
of the Canon Law Institute and lead counsel in a number of 
recent cases involving disputes between clergy or parishes and 
diocesan authorities.

Weve presented more than enough evidence to show that not 
only is the inhibition unwarranted but really, the charges are, 
to the extent that theres anything there, are specious, Nalls 
told the diocesan newsmagazine, The Southern Cross, recently.

However, the committee refused to lift the inhibition and 
ordered the investigation to continue.

Jay Greener, communications officer for the Anglican Mission 
in America, said AMiA Bishop Charles Murphy would be at Church 
of the Resurrections first worship service April 28.

The AMiA, formed in July of 2000, is a group of about 40 US 
congregations which have broken away from the Episcopal Church 
over their perception  that the church has strayed from 
traditional Anglican theology.  The AMiA operates under the 
authority of the Anglican provinces of Rwanda and South East 
Asia.

The consecrations of two American priest as bishops in the 
AMiA in January 2000 and four more in June 2001 have been 
criticized by church leaders, including the Archbishop of 
Canterbury.

In an AMiA news release, Murphy welcomed Donlon and the new 
church. "Kevin has enjoyed tremendous success in his ministry, 
where the church in Tampa has exploded in terms of growth, and 
where he has engendered deep loyalty among the people he serves. 
Our decision to receive him and re-instate him as an Anglican 
priest is based on our careful evaluation of his present 
situation and his strong record, which exhibits remarkable 
leadership," the release said.

------

Text of the official statement from Bishop John Lipscomb:

 From the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida

The Rt. Rev. John B. Lipscomb, Bishop

For Immediate Release

Re:  The Renunciation of the Ministry of the Episcopal Church 
by Kevin Francis Donlon, Ph.D. 

On Sunday April 21, the Bishop of Southwest Florida received 
by fax and e-mail the Formal Notice of Renunciation from the 
ordained ministry of the Episcopal Church by Kevin Francis 
Donlon, Ph.D., former rector of St. Marys Episcopal Church, 
Tampa, Florida. The renunciation was received at a time Dr. 
Donlon was amenable for Presentment for Conduct Unbecoming a 
Member of the Clergy of the Church and before the conclusion of 
the Churchs investigation of a series of allegations brought 
against him this past February. 

The disciplinary procedures of the Episcopal Church require 
that the Bishop may accept a renunciation when the clergyperson 
is amenable for disciplinary action only with the consent of the 
majority of the members of the Standing Committee of the 
diocese.  When the bishop has received their consent, he will 
accept the renunciation and remove Dr. Donlon from the 
priesthood of the Episcopal Church which is the constituent 
member of the Anglican Communion in the United States of 
America.  Upon the acceptance of his renunciation and his 
removal from the ordained ministry, disciplinary action to which 
he has been subject comes to an end. 

The Bishop and the Diocese of Southwest Florida continue to 
pray for and work towards healing of the congregation of St. 
Marys and the rebuilding of the life of this important 
congregation in our faith community.  The bishop will meet with 
the Wardens and Vestry this coming Sunday during the course of 
his scheduled visitation to the congregation to discuss the 
immediate need for an interim rector to work with the 
congregation until the appropriate time to begin the search 
process for a new rector for St. Marys Church.

--Jim DeLa is director of communications for the Diocese of 
Southwest Florida.