We reported earlier on the draft recommendations of the disciplinary panel.
The Los Angeles Times reports that the recommendations have now been confirmed, see Panel’s final ruling maintains 3-year suspension for bishop who tried to sell Newport church.
The final version of the panel’s document is available here.
This is still subject to an appeal process. We have not yet seen any public statements from church sources about it.
Earlier, a further interim order was made by the Presiding Bishop, which took immediate effect, and inhibits any further actions being taken by Bishop Bruno in respect of the disputed property and parish of St James, during what could be a further protracted period. See Presiding Bishop removes disputed Newport Beach congregation from Bruno’s authority.
The action was welcomed by the congregation, which published this letter.
The diocese issued this: Bishop Coadjutor responds to Presiding Bishop’s transfer of jurisdiction in Newport Beach matters
The Rt. Rev. John Harvey Taylor, bishop coadjutor of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, today responded to Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s transfer to the diocesan Standing Committee and him jurisdiction over matters related to church property in Newport Beach and the congregation of St. James’ the Great. Bishop Taylor’s statement follows:
“The Presiding Bishop’s action enables the Rev. Dr. Rachel Anne Nyback, president of the Standing Committee, her fellow committee members, and me to move ahead prayerfully to promote truth, open dialogue, and reconciliation in matters that have distracted our diocese for many months and to do so without awaiting a final resolution of the charges against our Bishop, J. Jon Bruno. We pledge to do all we can to use this opportunity to achieve a just outcome for the sake of our entire diocesan community.”
The full text of the restriction is reproduced at the link above.
The Living Church has this: Coadjutor Spans Conflicts
The Rt. Rev. John Taylor, Bishop Coadjutor of Los Angeles, praised the Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno on Aug. 2 as “a courageous, visionary leader” who would “acknowledge that there are things he would have done differently.”
…Here is the complete text of Taylor’s statement in response to the final order:
Bishop Bruno’s 40 years of ordained ministry and 15 years as sixth bishop of Los Angeles are not summed up by this order or the events that precipitated it. He is a courageous, visionary leader. Like every successful executive inside and outside the church, he would be the first to acknowledge that there are things he would have done differently. I look forward to continuing to learn from him and consult with him about the life of the diocesan community he has served and loves so well.
Regarding the property on Lido Island, the Standing Committee and I, at the request of the Presiding Bishop, will do everything we can to promote a just solution that takes into account the interests of all in our community (including the faithful members of the Newport Beach church) and gives us the opportunity to move forward together.
In a dispute such as this one, truth-telling, open communication, and reconciliation can be difficult for everyone involved. As this work gets underway, let us all remember St. Paul’s words (Rom. 8:28): “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”
That took a very long time – for what always seemed like a clear-cut case of abuse of power?
This is very sad. Bishop Jon was a wonderful bishop…who clearly lost his way.
Likewise, I am sad that Bishop Bruno should have been thus treated by the TEC hierarchy. His ‘sin’ was that of a custodian of the property of the Church, who regarded the misappropriation by the dissidents as a deprivation for future members of the TEC parishes concerned. I pray for +Bruno, that God may deal more kindly with him than his Church.
I agree. Bishop Jon Bruno is champ. He repeatedly persisted in SAVING St. James the Great from being snatched away (from the diocese of L.A.) by the Uganda/++Orombi extra holy crowd of border trespassing anti-LGBTI (at all levels of Churchlife) gang. I would and do, trust bishop Jon Bruno..fully! Leonard Clark aka Leonardo Ricardo