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Content about John W. Howe

October 22, 2012
Panel of Reference report on the Fort Worth 7 finds misconduct

A Reference Panel has found that a prima facie case of misconduct can be made against nine serving and retired bishops of the Episcopal Church for having endorsed an amicus brief presented to the Texas Supreme Court, or for having given testimony in a trial court proceeding involving the Diocese of Quincy.

A Reference Panel has found that a prima facie case of misconduct can be made against nine serving and retired bishops of the Episcopal Church for having endorsed an amicus brief presented to the Texas Supreme Court, or for having given testimony in a trial court proceeding involving the Diocese of Quincy. 

July 27, 2012
Accusers named in Fort Worth 7 case

The Title IV disciplinary proceedings initiated against the Fort Worth 7 has not been derailed by the intervention of the provisional bishops of Quincy and Fort Worth during the 77th General Convention, the accused have learned. 

In an exchange of emails between seven bishops who endorsed an amicus brief in the Diocese of Fort Worth case pending before the Texas Supreme Court and the Rt. Rev. F. Clay Matthews, the Bishop for Pastoral Development in the Office of the Presiding Bishop, Bishop Matthews stated he would be “sending additional information to the Bishops involved after a period of reflection from the conversations at General Convention and some preliminary interviews. When a complaint has been received by the Intake Officer, the Disciplinary Canons are in effect.”

Bishop Matthews added “I trust this letter addresses the immediate concerns you raised, and you will hear more from me perhaps as late as September.”

The Title IV disciplinary proceedings initiated against the Fort Worth 7 has not been derailed by the intervention of the provisional bishops of Quincy and Fort Worth during the 77th General Convention, the accused have learned. 

July 9, 2012
Show’s over -- No censure for Fort Worth 9

The push by the provisional bishops of Fort Worth and Quincy to censure nine bishops for disloyalty to the Episcopal Church has failed in the House of Bishops and has likely sunk any attempt to discipline the accused through the church’s legal system.

After two and a half hours of discussion over three private sessions at the 77th General Convention meeting in Indianapolis, on 8 July 2012 the House of Bishops responded to claims of misconduct leveled against the nine by the provisional bishops of Quincy and Fort Worth.  The House of Bishops responded with a “Mind of the House” resolution proposed by one of the accused, the Rt. Rev. Daniel Martins, Bishop of Springfield, affirming the loyalty of Episcopalians in the dioceses of Fort Worth, Quincy, San Joaquin and Pittsburgh.

The push by the provisional bishops of Fort Worth and Quincy to censure nine bishops for disloyalty to the Episcopal Church has failed in the House of Bishops and has likely sunk any attempt to discipline the accused through the church’s legal system.

July 7, 2012
Accused bishops protest their loyalty to TEC and Truth

Seven bishops have written an open letter to the Episcopal Church’s House of Bishops repudiating charges of disloyalty brought against them by the provisional bishops of Fort Worth and Quincy.

...

The seven apologized to their colleagues for any offense they may have given by their actions, but stated that they had been compelled to act by the dictates of conscience.  “We are convinced that the venerable polity of our Church is under threat due to the temporary exigencies of secular litigation. However much we may understand and sympathize with these objectives, we consider it our greater duty to uphold our constitutional polity.”

Seven bishops have written an open letter to the Episcopal Church’s House of Bishops repudiating charges of disloyalty brought against them by the provisional bishops of Fort Worth and Quincy.

On 6 July 2012, seven of the nine bishops accused of misconduct by Bishops C. Wallis Ohl Jr., and James C. Buchanan stated there was no truth in the accusations leveled against them.

July 7, 2012
Update: Bishop Howe responds to charges

The retired Bishop of Central Florida, the Rt. Rev. John W. Howe, reports that his name was omitted from the list of signatories to the 6 July 2012 in error.  He tells Anglican Ink that he has endorsed the statement given to the Presiding Bishop and stands with his colleagues in their defence -- though physically absent from the convention hall in Indianapolis.

Anglican Ink has updated its detailed report on the letter to correct this mistake.

The retired Bishop of Central Florida, the Rt. Rev. John W. Howe, reports that his name was omitted from the list of signatories to the 6 July 2012 in error.  He tells Anglican Ink that he has endorsed the statement given to the Presiding Bishop and stands with his colleagues in their defence -- though physically absent from the convention hall in Indianapolis.

Anglican Ink has updated its detailed report on the letter to correct this mistake.

July 6, 2012
Show trial set for 9 bishops

A letter accusing nine bishops of disloyalty to the Episcopal Church and violation of its canons is scheduled for discussion on 6 July 2012 during a closed session of the Episcopal Church’s House of Bishops meeting at the 77th General Convention in Indianapolis.

The letter has been described as “end run” around the Title IV canons, one bishop told Anglican Ink, that seeks a political solution to a judicial process.

A letter accusing nine bishops of disloyalty to the Episcopal Church and violation of its canons is scheduled for discussion on 6 July 2012 during a closed session of the Episcopal Church’s House of Bishops meeting at the 77th General Convention in Indianapolis.

The letter has been described as “end run” around the Title IV canons, one bishop told Anglican Ink, that seeks a political solution to a judicial process. 

July 3, 2012
Bishopsgate Plot Thickens: Complaint Timed to Intimidate Witness

 

The timing of the complaint, and the instant notification by email to the concerned Bishop, while hinting at several weeks delay in actually looking at the sufficiency of the charges, could not be a coincidence. 

 

It has to have been a calculated effort to intimidate -- not just this particular Bishop, but any of the nine Bishops who might be thinking of offering testimony on behalf of the Diocese of Quincy. 

 

And now, your Curmudgeon comes to the most disturbing question: Who knew??

 

June 30, 2012
Seven more TEC bishops charged with misconduct

Seven bishops have been charged with misconduct for having endorsed a friend of the court brief prepared by the Anglican Communion Institute in the Diocese of Fort Worth case.

On 28 June 2012, the Rt Rev Maurice M. Benitez, retired Bishop of Texas, the Rt Rev John W. Howe, retired Bishop of Central Florida, the Rt Rev Paul E. Lambert. Suffragan Bishop of Dallas, the Rt Rev William H. Love, Bishop of Albany, the Rt Rev D. Bruce MacPherson, Bishop of Western Louisiana, the Rt Rev Daniel H. Martins, Bishop of Springfield, and the Rt. Rev. James M. Stanton, Bishop of Dallas were informed they had been charged with misconduct.

Seven bishops have been charged with misconduct for having endorsed a friend of the court brief prepared by the Anglican Communion Institute in the Diocese of Fort Worth case.

November 19, 2011
Central Florida Elects Greg Brewer

The Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida has elected a New York rector as its fourth bishop. The Rev. Canon Gregory O. Brewer was elected on the fourth ballot from among seven candidates to succeed the Rt. Rev. John W. Howe at a special convention held at Trinity Preparatory School in Winter Park on 19 Nov 2011.

The Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida has elected a New York rector as its fourth bishop. The Rev. Canon Gregory O. Brewer was elected on the fourth ballot from among seven candidates to succeed the Rt. Rev. John W. Howe at a special convention held at Trinity Preparatory School in Winter Park on 19 Nov 2011.