[Episcopal News Service] The disciplinary case against the Rt. Rev. Alan Gates, former bishop of Massachusetts, has been closed after a conciliation process between Gates and a priest over an incident at a worship service in March.
The conclusion of the Gates case was revealed publicly Oct. 21 in an update to a page of The Episcopal Church’s website that contains information about cases against bishops. The update says the Rt. Rev. Mary Gray-Reeves, as Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s designate in the case, “issued concluding pastoral direction” on Oct. 8. On the same day, the case’s reference panel issued a determination “concluding matter with pastoral response.”
The church’s Office of Public Affairs declined to issue any further statement. Episcopal News Service also contacted a Diocese of Massachusetts spokesperson, who reported no new diocesan statement on the matter.
Gates was investigated under the church’s Title IV disciplinary canons for removing a female priest’s clergy collar March 30 during a festive Easter Vigil held at the Cathedral of St. Paul in Boston. Afterward, Gates issued a written apology for what he described as “an instant of altogether misguided mischief.”
Under the Title IV canons, a three-member reference panel receives intake reports on disciplinary complaints and decides next steps. Curry, who serves on the reference panel in cases involving bishops, recused himself on April 29 after receiving the report in Gates’ case, and Gray-Reeves, who was House of Bishops vice president at the time, took Curry’s place. In late May, the reference panel assigned the matter to a canonical process known as conciliation between Gates and the priest.
“We ask for the church’s continued prayers for everyone affected,” the Diocese of Massachusetts said at the time, “as we move forward in the spirit of reconciliation and with renewed commitment to ensuring that our churches are safe and nurturing places that uphold the dignity of every person.”
Gates had served as the bishop of the Diocese of Massachusetts since 2014 and, in preparation for retirement, resigned his office as of Oct. 19. On that day, the Rt. Rev. Julia E. Whitworth was ordained and consecrated as Gates’ successor to lead the Boston-based diocese.