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Episcopal Church slams diocese in southern Va.
BY ALBERTA LINDSEY
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
10/22/2004
Six years ago, the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia was among the most sought-out and healthy dioceses for clergy to join. Now it is perceived as one of the most dysfunctional in the country, according to a report that includes 66 recommendations.
The report criticized the leadership of the Rt. Rev. David C. Bane Jr., who became bishop of the diocese in 1998, and it blamed many of the diocese's problems on his leadership style, which was described as "either/or" rather than one that sees both sides of an issue.
"Because of this vacuum in leadership and vision, the diocese is floundering in all areas," the report stated.
The report also called the relationship between Bane and Suffragan Bishop Carol J. Gallagher disastrous. The degree to which the two disagree is legendary, and until very recently communication between them did not exist, the report said.
Gallagher was limited in when and where she could speak and what she could speak about, her pay was significantly in error and not received on time and she was not assigned specific duties, said the 67-page report prepared by an internal committee and made public yesterday.
The diocese has 123 congregations with 37,000 members. It stretches from Danville to the Eastern Shore and from the North Carolina line to the south side of the James River at Richmond.
"There is a lot of truth in the report," Bane said in a telephone interview from his Norfolk office. "We have some work to do."
The report also said the bishop and the suffragan have expressed public anger toward clergy who do not agree with them. There also is obvious enmity between the two bishops, the report added.
Neither bishop appears concerned about accountability, a fact recognized by most members of the staff, clergy and leaders in the diocese, the report added. The diocese also has few job descriptions, no hiring standards, no annual reviews of work, no formal disciplinary procedures, no process for handling complaints and no clear chain of authority.
The committee recommended that the bishop and the suffragan bishop be told that "inappropriate handling of disagreements will no longer be tolerated, and cooperation will be expected. . . . If either bishop is unwilling to meet the needs of the people they have been elected to serve, they should be invited to find another position," the report said.
"I'm not going to defend myself," Bane said, "because it turns into a 'he said, she said' thing. I regret the tone of the report. I wish it were more balanced."
He added: "Most of the financial [recommendations] have been done. There was no malfeasance. There was not money that was missing or misplaced. We will have a full report at the annual council" meeting in February.
The report noted that the diocese has hired a comptroller and that some staff adjustments have been made. "The committee is grateful for the changes . . . however, none of the changes address accountability; most of the changes are long overdue; and the process by which they have been accomplished does not reflect any sense of order," the report stated.
Bane said he and Gallagher, suffragan bishop since 2001, now talk by phone daily. "Our relationship is much better than it was a year ago."
A call from The Times-Dispatch to Gallagher's office in Petersburg was not returned.
Other recommendations in the report include:
annual evaluation of all employees;
the removal of unqualified employees;
an assessment of salaries and benefits as a part of a staff reorganization that includes development of standards to avoid over- or underpayment of salaries and benefits;
holding regular staff meetings to educate, inform, communicate personally, build a strong team and improve morale and enhance the life and mission of the diocese;
an independent audit of all funds because of a lack of credible accounting information;
auditors are to be certified public accountants with no connection to or friendships with any employee of the diocese; and
the diocesan treasurer should be a certified public accountant with skill and experience in not-for-profit fund accounting or have significant accounting education and experience.
The 15-member Diocesan Organization Committee that made the report began meeting in January. Diocesan employees were interviewed and a survey was sent to clergy and senior wardens in the diocese.
A cover letter that was sent Wednesday with copies of the report to clergy in the diocese said the diocesan executive board would adopt a plan within 60 days to implement the report. The letter was signed by Sanders T. Schoolar III, chairman of the executive board.
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