The Rt. Rev. John Harvey Taylor, bishop coadjutor of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, on Aug. 1 accepted jurisdiction over matters related to church property in Newport Beach and the congregation of St. James the Great – a responsibility he shares with the diocese’s Standing Committee – in response to a directive from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry.
“The Presiding Bishop’s action enables the Rev. Rachel Anne Nyback, president of the Standing Committee, her fellow committee members, and me to move ahead prayerfully to promote truth, open dialogue, and reconciliation in matters that have distracted our diocese for many months and to do so without awaiting a final resolution of the charges against our Bishop, J. Jon Bruno,” said Taylor in response to the presiding bishop’s action. “We pledge to do all we can to use this opportunity to achieve a just outcome for the sake of our entire diocesan community.”
Curry issued a partial restriction of ministry that removes Bruno from any financial or pastoral jurisdiction over the Newport Beach property and the St. James congregation.
According to a release from the Public Affairs Office of the Episcopal Church, Curry’s action “is intended to protect the integrity of the church’s disciplinary process until it is concluded and also allow the Diocese of Los Angeles under its new leadership to move forward even as the disciplinary process with Bishop Bruno continues, as explained by the presiding bishop.”
“It is my hope that this action will help to facilitate positive steps toward resolution and reconciliation,” the Presiding Bishop said.
Bruno faced several charges brought by members of St. James the Great related to his attempted sale of the property. After formal proceedings, a hearing panel issued an order calling for Bruno to be suspended from ministry for three years.
The order is final, unless and until Bruno files an appeal with the Court of Review for Bishops.