Bishop Davis was elected bishop of Northwestern Pennsylvania diocese in 1973.

Davis was one of 67 Episcopal bishops who sponsored a landmark resolution allowing women into the priesthood. He ordained Jacqueline Means as the first woman priest in the Episcopal Church on Jan. 1, 1977. He lived in Sarasota, Fla., in retirement, where he sang often in church choirs and as a soloist, according to the Episcopal News Service.

Hoster met with longtime parishioners personally last week, mailed a letter to the congregation, and referenced the letter from the pulpit on Sunday asking any other victims to step forward. None apparently have.

The present Bishop of Northwestern PA, Sean Rowe said in a statement posted July 13 on the diocese's Web site, dionwpa.org, that "I had no idea Bishop Davis abused girls until I received a phone call on March 30, 2010, from a woman who was abused sometime between 1978 and 1980. I immediately began an investigation and during that investigation, I learned of three other victims who had come forward in the past."

There are now at least nine alleged victims according to the Bishop.

Bishop Rowe said he learned that his predecessor, Bishop Robert Rowley, confronted Bishop Davis in 1993 after allegations surfaced. At that time, Bishop Davis agreed to resign from the House of Bishops, undergo counseling, see a psychiatrist, "and refrain from any priestly or episcopal duties."

What has not been answered is why all this was hushed up at the time?

In a Q and A reported here: http://tinyurl.com/2cmqltz Rowe reports that some church leaders were aware of this situation years earlier than publically reported. "Our recent investigation indicates that Bishop Rowe's predecessor, Bishop Robert Rowley, who died in January 2010, became aware of the abuse of three and possibly four victims, as early as 1993. He reported this abuse to the Office of the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, met with victims, and attempted to arrange counseling for them. Upon Bishop Rowley's report, the Most Rev. Edmond Browning, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church from 1986-1997 and the Rt. Rev. Harold Hopkins, a member of his staff, were involved in resolving the claims of one of the victims and the private discipline of Bishop Davis, who by that time had retired to Sarasota, Florida."

If all this was known back then (we could find nothing in VOL's archives about this story), it amounts to a major cover up, something for which TEC leaders are known. Bishop Clayton Matthews, Bishop of the Office of Pastoral Development for the PB who handles all the church' scandals and does his best to keep the lid on things, apparently could not stop this one from leaking out this time.

VOL has learned of yet another scandal, this time at Christ Church Gross Pointe, Michigan a well to do "country club" church of 2,000 members in one of the few wealthy areas in the suburb of Detroit. The church holds three services 8 - 9 - and 11:15 on Sunday in winter and has a clergy staff of four including The Rev. Canon Ron Spann, Director of the Spirituality Center.

The Vestry of the parish announced the resignation of the Rev. Bradford G. Whitaker as rector, effective immediately, with charges of a "serious allegation of misconduct and a violation of his ordination vows." The Rt. Rev. Wendell N. Gibbs, Jr., Bishop of the Diocese of Michigan, has temporarily removed Whitaker from his duty as rector on April 16, 2010

"Subsequent to a thorough investigation within the guidelines of the Canons of the Episcopal Church, Brad has submitted to the discipline of the Church. His resignation as rector and suspension from all priestly functioning is a requirement of the Sentence of Suspension which he has voluntarily accepted," Bishop Gibbs stated in a letter sent to parishioners. The sentence of Suspension was effective July 17, 2010.

Libby Candler, Senior Warden of the Vestry said the leadership of Christ Church will work with Bishop Gibbs and the Diocese of Michigan in the coming weeks to call an interim rector and begin the search for a new rector - the 10th in the church's 80-year history.

A third inhibition, one that is surrounded in much secrecy and deliberate mystery, is the inhibition of Dean Philip C. Linder of Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Columbia, SC.

Despite numerous newspaper reports, no one is prepared to say what it is Linder has done. Apparently, sex and financial malfeasance have been ruled out, but it leaves everyone wondering why it is that the bishop of Upper South Carolina Bishop, The Rt. Rev. W. Andrew Waldo has called a confidential meeting where we are being told the bishop will provide "additional information" only to those in good standing with the parish and who are permitted to attend. At this closed-door meeting the bishop will offer up his reasons for inhibiting the exercise of the priestly office by Dean Philip C. Linder.

"I am requiring all attendees at these meetings to sign a binding oath of confidentiality," he wrote. Why? What has Linder done that is so startling and demanding of confidentiality that no one must know anything until the bishop lets it trickle out, no doubt spun, so the church can carry on?

Bishop Waldo continued, "I am convening this meeting because in my pastoral judgment, and in my exercise of the ministry of oversight as an ordained episcopal leader in our church, it is my conclusion that sharing additional information with you is necessary. I hope to assure you of the deliberate and careful way in which decisions have been made, and the factual justification for them. The ultimate goal of the meeting is to ensure that the health and wellness of the parish are preserved."

Dean Linder was suspended by the new bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina, apparently over a leadership dispute between the priest and the vestry of the downtown Columbia church.

Bishop Waldo issued the suspension after Linder violated ground rules for the mediation process, according to a statement circulated to lay leaders of the church.

The news sent shock waves through the close-knit Episcopal church, which is in the midst of a $7 million restoration of the Gothic cathedral.

"To govern conduct during the mediation process, the Bishop established certain ground rules, called pastoral directives," the statement said. "Dean Linder violated those directives. Please be assured that these matters do not involve any breaches of moral standards."

In his absence, Bishop Waldo appointed Canon Charles Davis to serve as acting dean.

Linder has been leader of the cathedral since 1999.

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