wfn.org | Episcopalians: Grein cleared of charges

[dmack@episcopalchurch.org]

October 18, 2002

2002-242

Episcopalians: Grein cleared of charges

by Jan Nunley

(ENS) Retired New York bishop Richard F. Grein has been cleared 
by the Title IV Review Committee of allegations that he violated 
the canons and his ordination vows in the process of replacing 
the Rev. Janet Broderick Kraft as vicar of Grace Church in New 
York with "a close personal friend" and former assistant in the 
bishop's office, the Rev. Anne Richards.

According to the committee's final report, three priests and 
lay people of the Diocese of New York signed the charges. Two 
other lay signers were identified as "communicants of the 
Episcopal Church." The charges alleged that Grein "violated the 
Canons of General Convention, the Canons of the Diocese of New 
York, his Ordination Vows and constituted Conduct Unbecoming a 
Member of the Clergy in violation of Canon IV. 1.1 (e), (f), (h) 
and (j)."

Grein was accused of having Kraft removed in order to have 
her position filled by Richards, one day before his retirement 
on June 30, 2001. The complaint accused him of "directing the 
priest-in-charge of Grace Church to sign a letter terminating 
her employment based on allegations of financial misconduct" 
which Grein had not investigated, and accused Grein of defaming 
Kraft. It also claimed he used "threats and coercion" to have 
her sign an agreement releasing him from liability. (Kraft did 
not sign the letter.) Grein was also charged with issuing a 
pastoral direction to Kraft "for which there was no factual 
basis and for an improper purpose."

On February 2, 2002 Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold 
referred the charges to the Review Committee, as required by 
canon. The members of the committee met by telephone on February 
15, April 19 and October 14 of this year to consider the charges 
and determined that if the alleged facts were true, the offense 
of "conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy" might have 
occurred. They referred the charges to church attorney David 
Booth Beers, asking him to investigate and make a report and 
recommendation to the committee.

Beers interviewed 39 people connected with the case. He 
reviewed written submissions and transcripts of hearings in a 
civil action that Kraft filed in the United States District 
Court for the Southern District of New York against Grace 
Church, Grein, Richards and the Rev. David Rider, current 
priest-in-charge of Grace Church, as well as correspondence and 
other documents made available by Kraft, her attorneys, the 
Diocese of New York and Grace Church. 

Kraft's civil action alleged breach of contract, wrongful 
discharge, wrongful denial of employment benefits and defamation 
and with a conspiracy to interfere with her employment, and 
sought $6.8 million in damages.

In a 79-page report, presented to the Review Committee on 
September 19, Beers concluded "in light of the absence of 
evidence that Bishop Grein committed an offense, we recommend 
that no presentment issue in this case."

At its October meeting the committee, reviewing the report, 
determined that it would "not be necessary or appropriate to 
seek or receive additional evidence" in the matter and decided 
to issue no presentment against Grein.

The Presiding Bishop's office declined to comment on the 
case.

Kraft's father is actor James Broderick,  her mother, 
Patricia Broderick, is a painter and screenwriter, and her 
brother is actor Matthew Broderick. She is now rector of Grace 
Van Vorst Church in Jersey City, in the Diocese of New Jersey.

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--The Rev. Jan Nunley is deputy director of Episcopal News 
Service.