Anglican Bishop Keith Dalby of the Diocese of The Murray in South Australia has appealed the finding of the Anglican Church’s Episcopal Standards Board finding that the bishop should be deposed from Holy Orders and given three weeks to resign.
The case concerns Bishop Dalby’s failure to disclose to his Diocesan Council and others a romantic relationship with and subsequent marriage to Ms Alison Dutton (now a priest) at a time when he participated in decisions involving her advancement in the Diocese.
The Episcopal Standards Canon 2007 (the Canon or church law ) under which the finding was made by the board, provides an opportunity for the respondent to appeal a “reviewable decision”.
In a statement following the board’s decision being made public, Dalby said, “I acknowledge that this constituted a significant error of judgment and a failure to meet the standards expected of me as a Bishop of the Church. I accept the seriousness of the Board’s findings and the weight of its conclusions; however, I consider the judgment harsh and disproportionate.”
The penalty imposed on Dalby was the most severe option available. The Episcopal Standards board is able to impose several levels of penalty.
A bishop can be
• counselled
• made subject to conditions or restrictions.
• told to cease duties for a period determined by the board
• told to resign
• directed to be deposed from Holy Orders.
A review tribunal consists of a barrister of “not less than 5 years standing appointed by the President of the appropriate State professional body,” or if the President declines to appoint, then the appointment will fall to the Primate’s Chancellor.
Dalby has not stated the grounds of his appeal. Available grounds include a denial of natural justice, the board not following proper procedures or that no reasonable board could have made their decision.
Bishop Dalby’s response to the finding is available in the earlier The Other Cheek report https://theothercheek.com.au/anglican-board-directs-bishop-to-step-down-or-be-deposed
and the Episcopal Standards Board’s finding is here https://anglican.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/1659-ESB-Determination-Dalby.pdf
Image: Bishop Keith Dalby. Image Credit: Dalby LinkedIn
Correction: the review tribunal appointment falls first to the Primate’s chancellor, not the Metropolitan’s Chancellor.
