Bishop Warner – a ‘credible allegation of infidelity’

From Seattle-

The retired longtime Episcopal bishop for Western Washington has been barred from exercising his ministry following what his successor calls “a credible allegation of recurrent marital infidelity.”

The Rt. Rev. Vincent Warner served as Episcopal Bishop of Olympia from 1989 to 2007: Warner surprised the 2002 Episcopal diocesan convention by announcing he was divorcing his wife of nearly four decades. He remarried shortly after his divorce.

“I first heard the allegations several weeks ago, and promptly reported them to the Presiding Bishop’s office, which is the procedure required by the canons of the Episcopal Church,” said Bishop Greg Rickel, Warner’s successor.

“On Monday I received word that Bishop Jefferts Schori had restricted Bishop Warner’s ministry.”

Rickel said the allegations did not involve contact with minors or individuals under Warner’s pastoral care. The retired bishop had opened a consulting business in conflict resolution.

The infidelity allegations will be investigated and resolved according to canons of the Episcopal Church.

“The news grieves me and may be difficult for some of you,” Rickel wrote in a letter to the diocese.

Warner underwent a kind of post-midlife male makeover in the last years of his tenure as bishop.

More here-

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2011/09/30/bishop-warner-a-credible-allegation-of-infidelity/