The Oct. 11-13 clergy conference in the Diocese of Central New York included an extensive presentation on ecclesiastical legal proceedings by the bishop against one of his rectors.

The Rev. David G. Bollinger, rector of St. Paul’s Church, Owego, has been inhibited and accused by the Rt. Rev. Gladstone B. Adams III of financial malfeasance. Those charges were made after Fr. Bollinger forwarded to the diocese a sexual misconduct complaint against a former rector of St. Paul’s. That priest remains a licensed member in good standing and canonically resident in the diocese. Prior to the start of the conference, Bishop Adams notified the clergy that he had allotted two hours on the opening day of the clergy conference for standing committee members to “update” clergy on the ecclesiastical proceedings against Fr. Bollinger who was not allowed to be present.

At one point shortly after the conference began, Bishop Adams was notified that a member of the clergy was using a tape recorder. The priest said the tape was being made for a colleague (not Fr. Bollinger) who could not be present, but Bishop Adams and others insisted that the priest stop and surrender the tape. After an angry exchange, the priest eventually removed the cassette from the machine and threw it in the direction of Bishop Adams. Later it was announced that the priest had left the meeting before its conclusion.

During the update on ecclesiastical proceedings, Bishop Adams said in response to a question that the diocese had concluded there was insufficient evidence upon which to pursue sexual misconduct charges against the former rector of St. Paul’s. Little else was said about the misconduct allegation. The majority of the discussion, which began with a presentation by the chair of the diocesan review committee, the Rev. Kathryn Eden, focused on the ecclesiastical proceedings against Fr. Bollinger. She told the clergy that another church attorney, James E. Sparks, had been retained last January by the diocese to investigate the malfeasance complaint against Fr. Bollinger, and that until the review committee received Mr. Sparks’ summary report it was unlikely there would be any change in the current situation.

Several clergy expressed doubts during question time about conducting the “update” without allowing the accused to be present and others questioned whether Fr. Bollinger was being treated fairly in general by the process as explained. In response to one question, diocesan chancellor Paul J. Curtin gave an extended response urging the clergy not to believe everything they read, to trust the process and keep an open mind.

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