A memo from the Bishop of Central NY

From: FrGBA@aol.com
To:XXXXXX@xxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 2:00 AM
Subject: checking in

Hi X,

Thanks for trying to get a hold of me. Our work at the House of Bishops went very late: 11:00 here so I chose not to call you at 1 AM.

Sally Johnson is not here, I think because of the special nature of this meeting, so I will contact her ASAP to get an answer to your question as to whether we can name the complaint we have now received.

So that you know, I found it odd that Tony Seel was invited by David to be the other person to meet with the complaintant, since Tony is one of the priests of the diocese most in objection to the Minneapolis decision and a big problem to many of us, including me from time to time. Odd to say the least. I must say I am also not happy that I was not informed.

So that you know, Holly Eden has already been informed as soon as I got the information from XXXXXXXX. Her first response is that she does not totally trust what has unfolded since Tony was a part of this. Also, you need to know that any account David gives I do not totally trust. I am sorry for that but it is based on the way I have been treated by him with untruths and blatant misrepresentations of my behavior/responses. He for example has continued to tell people that I did not respond to the issues around Gael S when I did not know of his issues until the first letter from the lawyer. Other examples abound.

On another matter, the church attroney has been informed of the other issues concerning my administrator officer and is ready to begin that investigation. In addition, a full audit will be required of St. Paul's, Owego, but David has not yet been informed of that.

I will attempt to contact you tomorrow and also want to talk some more concerning David's behavior. I am now convinced that his behavior is a block to reconciliation in the parish and he needs help. We can talk more later.

Thanks again for your attentiveness and help.

Skip

Editor's notes: Holly Eden, who is referenced above, is one of the most liberal priests in the Diocese of Central NY.

Tony Seel is a priest in the Diocese of Central NY and the editor of the blogs Orthony and DCNY.

David is Fr. David Bollinger, rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Owego, NY.

Sally Johnson is Vice President for Risk Management Education for the Church Pension Fund. Risk management seems to have been the focus all last year for the Diocese and larger church, while Dave and the vestry at St. Paul's were trying to be good pastors.