TEC Presiding Bishop Curry removes 3 top administrators for "possible misconduct"

December 11, 2015

Dear Friends,

I need to inform you that on Wednesday I placed on administrative leave Bishop Stacy Sauls, Chief Operating Officer, Samuel McDonald, Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Director of Mission, and Alex Baumgarten, Director of Public Engagement. This is a result of concerns that have been raised about possible misconduct in carrying out their duties as members of senior management of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society.

I want to be clear. My decision should not be confused with a finding of fault, but is necessary to allow us to find clarity. We are taking these allegations seriously and there will be a full and fair examination of the concerns that have been raised to be conducted expeditiously by an independent investigator. To protect the integrity of that process, we will not be able to say more about the concerns at this time.

I ask that you pray for all who are involved and who are impacted by this situation... the rest
(H/T TitusOneNine)

Michael Curry cleans house in New York
Cui bono? To whose profit is it that Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has suspended the Episcopal Church’s top three administrators?

In a letter issued on 11 Dec 2015 from his hospital bed in Richmond the Presiding Bishop told the Church Center staff that he had placed the Rt. Rev. Stacy Sauls, the Episcopal Church’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Samuel McDonald, the Deputy Chief Operating Officer, and Mr. Alex Baumgarten, the Director of Engagement, on “administrative leave”.

Bishop Curry stated he had taken this action in response to “possible misconduct in carrying out their duties as members of senior management” of the Episcopal Church. He went on to say that the suspension was not a declaration of guilt of the accused, but was necessary to enable an investigation into the “issues”.

The presiding bishop’s letter declined to offer details of the alleged misconduct, and noted that no further information on the charges would be provided.

What do we know?

Nothing. Save for Bishop Curry and his immediate staff, the complainants -- and perhaps the accused -- no one has the full story. Bishop Curry has urged Episcopalians to refrain from speculation on the nature of the charges while the “independent investigator” carries out his task, but the manner in which this news was disclosed, and the form of the investigation -- coupled with the recent history of the church -- does limit the universe of outcomes.

Lingering concerns that Michael Curry is an empty suit -- a populist preacher and all round nice guy (but who is also a puppet manipulated by his staff) -- now have been put to rest. Whatever the outcome of the investigation, Michael Curry is firmly in charge at 815...
...more at Anglican Ink

Added:  Episcopal Officials Suspended by Presiding Bishop
Three top officials with the Episcopal Church have been suspended by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry.

Chief Operating Officer Bishop Stacy Sauls, Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Director of Mission Samuel McDonald, and Director of Public Engagement Alex Baumgarten were placed on administrative suspension on Wednesday, December 9.

“This is a result of concerns that have been raised about possible misconduct in carrying out their duties as members of senior management of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society [DFMS],” Curry explained in a letter to Episcopal Church staff that was made available on the afternoon of Friday, December 11. The DFMS is the organizational name for the national Episcopal Church...Juicy Ecumenism