The standing committee and the diocesan council of the Diocese of New Jersey have asked for the resignation of the diocesan bishop, the Rt. Rev. Joe Morris Doss. In a resolution adopted at the standing committee's meeting Oct. 24, the committee acknowledged that reconciliation in the troubled diocese no longer was possible under the leadership of Bishop Doss, and that for the good of the diocese, he should resign. The diocesan council took similar action when it met Oct. 28.

Diocesan treasurer Richard Ellwood resigned following meetings of the two groups.

The action of the standing committee was revealed in a letter sent to all rectors and priests-in-charge. The letter did not mention a timetable for the proposed resignation, nor did it address a possible settlement for the bishop if he should resign. It was learned that salary and benefits for a year were being discussed, along with an offer to help the bishop find another position.

The Rev. Canon Juan Oliver, communications officer for the diocese, told TLC that Bishop Doss had no comment on the matter, but that he was preparing a pastoral letter to be read in all congregations.

"This is a dispute within the family of the Diocese of New Jersey," Canon Oliver said. "Families have disagreements and the opportunity for reconciliation is greater if the dialogue to create healing is a private one.

"The bishop's mission is one of reconciliation and healing no matter what the origin of the disputes or how inappropriately the dispute is handled."

The requests for resignation came only a few weeks after publication of a document titled "Proposals for Healing," which addresses troubles in the diocese and proposes possible solutions [TLC, Oct. 26]. That report, produced by the Wellness Committee of the diocese, listed eight different divisions, including complaints on the behavior of the bishop.

The standing committee resolution followed a visit by some diocesan leaders to the Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Edmond L. Browning, to discuss problems in New Jersey. Bishop Browning has been kept abreast of developments there and wrote a letter to the clergy which was sent to clergy along with the Wellness Committee report. It was also reported that Bishop Doss and some of his supporters made a visit to Bishop Browning following the trip taken by diocesan leaders.

Bishop Doss has been criticized for not addressing racism in the diocese. Other issues have included suggestions that Bishop Doss has provided poor money management, that his behavior has been erratic and that he has been "arrogant, condescending, dismissive of others, impatient and impulsive." Other problems cited by the Wellness Committee report include no sense of mission, the abuse of power, lack of connection between diocese and parishes, decreasing financial support and the role of the episcopacy.

"The bishop has no credibility left," one rector told TLC. "He's alienated almost everyone in the diocese."

"Reconciliation is no longer possible," another rector said. "He needs to go now."

Canon Oliver called Bishop Doss "a deeply spiritual man who believes the office of bishop is greater than anyone who holds it."

Bishop Doss has been bishop since Jan. 1, 1995, having been a rector in the Diocese of California when he was elected.