Search committee members resign citing concerns over safe church policy, ballot integrity

Bishop Mary Irwin-Gibson stands by the process to choose the next bishop of Montreal after four of nine search committee members resigned March 10, including the chair—forwarding their nominations to the electoral synod without endorsement and citing concerns over safe church policy and “limitations imposed by canon law” that might prevent them from protecting “the integrity of the ballot.”

Irwin-Gibson, who was not involved in the search process or in diocesan council conversations regarding the next bishop, told the Journal she had no concerns about the integrity of the episcopal election. She said no one has made a formal safe church complaint.

In the synod convening circular, the search committee said it acknowledged concerns over “the need for further refinement and clarity within our safe church policy to ensure alignment with best practices and to safeguard the integrity of diocesan leadership selection” as well as “the limitations imposed by canon law on the committee’s ability to act in ways that might have further protected the integrity of the ballot.”

Despite these concerns, the committee said it was forwarding all nominations without endorsement. Its report cites “external pressures that have deeply affected members of the committee” and states that it was “disheartening” that members had resigned due to these pressures, but adds, “the entire committee, both members who are remaining and those who are resigning, remains united in its commitment to the integrity of this process.”

Irwin-Gibson said best practices for safe church continue to evolve, including in the diocese of Montreal.

“I don’t think there are problems with our current safe church policy,” she said.

Montreal’s electoral synod will take place May 3. Candidates for bishop include the Rev. Rodney Clarke, the Rev. Teresa Danieley, Canon Neil Mancor, Archdeacon Victor David Mbuyi Bipungu, the Rev. Deborah Meister, Dean Bertrand Olivier and the Rev. Graham Singh.