Episcopal bishop in Montana resigns

Christian Century, March 21, 2001

The Episcopal bishop of Montana, recently defrocked after admitting to an affair nearly 20 years ago, has resigned from his post and accepted a $170,000 settlement package from the diocese he had led since 1986.

A court of bishops stripped Charles I. Jones III of his office and gave him 30 days to appeal. Jones then asked Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold if he could undergo a process of "voluntary submission to discipline" after which he could apply to be reinstated. Griswold refused.

As part of the severance package--which includes $55,000 to settle the mortgage on his house and 15 months of pay--Jones has agreed not to sue his former diocese or members associated with it.

Still, the anger surrounding the Jones case is likely to continue among the diocese's 48 parishes, which had voted to keep the bishop in 1994. In an angry pastoral letter, Jones wrote in part, "Although this does not seem to me to be what God is calling me to do, after nine years, [my wife] Ashby and I cannot emotionally continue to stand against the powerful forces seeking my ouster." --RNS