Disgraced Anglican bishop failed in his duty church tribunal finds

THE former Anglican bishop of the Murray was found guilty of disgraceful conduct by a church tribunal in Adelaide yesterday.

The body rebuked him and recommended that he be prohibited from acting as a bishop.

The special tribunal found Ross Davies had failed to deal appropriately with sexual misconduct allegations against an archdeacon, displayed a lack of commitment to the Anglican Church and used threatening and aggressive language towards parishioners.

Bishop Davies, who quit his position last week and received a $150,000 payment from the church, was not at the tribunal when it delivered its findings after a two-day hearing.

The bishop had faced nine internal charges brought by Adelaide Archbishop Jeffrey Driver and Bishop of Willochra Garry Weatherill relating to behaviour dating back to 2003.

The tribunal heard Bishop Davies had treated parishioners in a "dictatorial manner" and publicly expressed a desire to join the Catholic Church.

It also heard he had aligned himself with archdeacon Peter Coote, who had been accused of sexual misconduct by three female parishioners.

The tribunal found Bishop Davies had allowed Mr Coote to continue to hold positions of responsibility in the diocese, used his powers to subvert proper professional standards processes and failed to act on recommendations for action against the archdeacon.

"The tribunal regards breaches or interference in professional standards protocols as serious failures of duty," the tribunal said.

Bishop Davies tried to relinquish his holy orders on the weekend but failed because his attempt did not comply with church rules.

He could not be contacted for comment.

He had written to the tribunal denying the allegations.

The tribunal was told the bishop had been diagnosed with depression.

It said it would have recommended he be removed from office had he not already resigned.

Outside the tribunal, church warden Lee Lyons said parishioners felt betrayed by the bishop's behaviour.

"There's a lot of people that feel quite let down," she said.

Dr Driver said he was saddened and relieved by the findings.

"It is always a matter of great sadness when it becomes necessary for the church's disciplinary processes to be used in regard to a clergy member, particularly a bishop," he said.
"I am grateful that the careful processes of the special tribunal have provided an opportunity for the concerns and grief of people to be heard."

SIC: TA/AUS