As a priest who served in the Diocese of New Jersey for 36 years I feel compelled to respond to the reporting of the retirement of our diocesan bishop.

The great majority of the people of our diocese rejoiced when Bishop Doss was elected. I witnessed enthusiasm and warmth for the new bishop. The first sign of trouble came early with the dismissal of most of the diocesan staff. Whether persons should be dismissed was not the issue. It was the way the matter was handled. At the first clergy conference, led by the new bishop, he made it clear by his attitude and insensitivity that he was unwilling to listen to the concerns, hopes or thoughts of his clergy. He had his agenda and it was evident that he was uninterested in what was in the hearts and minds of his people.

Gradually, a pattern of behavior began to emerge. He would often be late for meetings and services. He was not honest with many of us who believed and trusted him. A number of clergy who sought his support in seeking new positions felt it was impossible to work with him on deployment issues. Letters to the bishop, as well as telephone calls, would go unanswered. On the rare occasion of a visitation to my parish, he acted as if he did not know where he was.

At one convocation meeting, with nearly 100 persons present, he was more than an hour late and then proceeded to read a lengthy paper on why one could not be a Christian and believe in capital punishment. During his reading an elderly delegate had a fainting spell. While paramedics worked on her only six or seven rows in front of him, he never stopped reading, never asked if she was all right and continued to read as she was taken out. His agenda seemed more important than the pastoral crisis in front of him.

There are many clergy and lay people who have stories that would help to show why our trust and confidence in our bishop eroded over the last four years. It is wrong to say that the problems were here and that our bishop was a victim of them. We are not a perfect diocese but neither are we as problem riddled and dysfunctional as the bishop would have people believe. We have been a growing, caring and strong example of the body of Christ in this part of the world. New missions and parishes were being established, financial obligations were being met, our bishops were successful pastors to their people and held with deep affection, and the gospel of Christ was truly being preached. People, both clergy and lay, were working together to build-up Christ's body, the church.

I do not support everything the diocese has done during this sad and painful chapter, but I know that many dedicated and committed people tried with all their hearts to make things better; but nothing could improve the bishop's leadership skills, his integrity nor his belligerent attitude. It has been evident for far too long that the diocese could not continue under its present leadership. I bid your prayers for the bishop and our diocese.

(The Rev. Canon) John T. Morrow Pine Beach, N.J.