The former Episcopal bishop’s office is limited due to allegations

By Michael Gryboskieditor-in-chief of the church Wednesday October 16, 2024

The Episcopal Church has restricted the ministry of former California-based Bishop Marc Andrus after credible allegations of an “inappropriate relationship.”

Andrus, who served as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California from 2006 until his retirement in July, is facing restrictions for an “inappropriate relationship with an adult,” the Episcopal Church’s Office of Public Affairs announced Tuesday.

While the disciplinary process continues, Andrus is prohibited from carrying out any ministerial work or communicating with members of the diocese.

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The restriction was permitted under the Episcopal Church’s disciplinary canons Title IV and was imposed by the Rt. The Rev. Mary Gray-Reeves, former Bishop of the Diocese of El Camino Real. Gray-Reeves serves as presiding bishop-designate for Title IV matters involving bishops.

The Rt. The Rev. Austin Rios, the newly installed bishop of the California diocese, addressed the issue in a pastoral letter Tuesday, describing the announcement as “difficult news for me to hear.”

“When I became your pastor, I wrote to you about the work we must do, the trust we must build, and the wounds we must entrust to the healing power of Christ. I didn’t expect that this kind of painful situation would be one of our first challenges together,” Rios said.

“But I believe that by loving God and each other and following the wisdom of Jesus, we will emerge from this difficulty more connected and more committed to the mission of God in our context.”

Rios concluded by appealing to the diocese to “please join me in praying for the person who made this accusation, for Bishop Marc, and for all those affected by this.”

Born in 1956 and ordained in 1988, Andrus was elected bishop of the Diocese of California in 2006, following his term as bishop suffragan in Alabama, which began in 2001.

Throughout his career, Andrus was known for his outspoken support of environmental causes and opposition to California’s constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and the Defense of Marriage Act.

In 2013, he signed a legal brief with several bishops opposing both Proposition 8 and DOMA as they faced legal challenges.

“The Episcopal Church has always seen itself as existing within our culture, not outside or above or in opposition to our culture. For more than a century, Episcopalians have looked to the model of Christ transforming culture, rather than, say, Christ against culture.” Andrus said in a statement at the time.

“In the area of ​​marriage equality, our church has gone on a pilgrimage with our culture. Sometimes we have taken the lead in advocating for marriage equality, and sometimes we have learned from culture and leaders outside the Church. We have developed rites of blessing and marriage for all and we have expanded the Church’s support for LGBT people in the form of premarital counseling and the integration of same-sex couples into loving communities of faith.”