A Message from the Rector
Dear Church,
Many of you have already received a communication from the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Wyoming notifying you that our Bishop, Paul-Gordon Chandler, was placed on administrative leave through the Office of the Presiding Bishop for an alleged indiscretion with a member of the Diocesan Team. The Episcopal Church through the ordination vows that we, clergy, make and within the Constitution and Canons of our church is clear in regard to the conduct expected from members of the clergy. In addition, we have a well outlined path for accountability when leaders are accused of misconduct. The Presiding Bishop’s Office has a process that is clear and allows for as much transparency as possible in regard to matters that relate to allegations such as these. That process is underway and in its earliest phase.
In the absence of a bishop, the ecclesiastical authority of the Episcopal Church in Wyoming rests with the Standing Committee of the Diocese, and the transfer of power and responsibilities have already taken place in order to ensure our Diocese runs smoothly while an investigation takes place. While our present situation is most certainly a crisis for our Wyoming church community, it is most certainly not an emergency. Time, effort, attention, and prayer need to be given over to the process the church established if and when events like these take place. We are in the hands of faithful people who hold their roles and responsibilities as they relate to matters like these with the utmost integrity. Our role is to pray and to pray for all involved directly and indirectly—for our Bishop and his family, for those connected to this incident, for our Standing Committee, for our Diocese.
Please know as more information is communicated to clergy and the lay leadership of our Diocese, we will most certainly pass on to you what we learn. I remind us that our course together has not changed at all. We, together, are meant for the embodiment of God’s love in the world we live in. As The Episcopal Church in Jackson Hole, we’re intent upon covering this valley with love like the snow covers it in the wintertime. While brokenness reveals itself each day of our lives, beautiful expressions of God’s love outnumber those challenges as we develop “eyes to see and ears to hear.” I am so grateful that we are in this work together, in spite of the challenging days ahead.
Love,
The Reverend Jimmy Bartz, Rector
