The Diocese of New Jersey has received the report of the consultant selected by its Wellness Committee to evaluate the feelings of clergy and laity in the diocese toward its bishop, the Rt. Rev. Joe Morris Doss. The Rev. Peter Steinke, a Lutheran minister experienced in conflict resolution, interviewed approximately 160 people, including junior and senior diocesan staff, the standing committee and diocesan council, members of various committees, commissions and groups, retired clergy and spouses. He twice conversed with Bishop Doss. In addition, he received letters, faxes, and printed material such as addresses by Bishop Doss, news stories, and comments from study groups.

The 20-page report cites descriptions of New Jersey as a "quiet, ingrown ... diverse diocese ... composed of places that do not have much to do with each other," with a history of a "dominant clericalism." Mr. Steinke points out that distrust of "808" (the office's address is 808 W. State St.) and financial problems existed well before Bishop Doss' arrival, as did, he writes, several geographic, social and political divisions. He quotes comments such as "a big dysfunctional system" with "a huge number of self-absorbed cliques."

At the time of Bishop Doss' election in 1993, the report continues, "the search committee placed five candidates before the Diocese, all of whom were from outside of the Diocese. For eighty years, bishops had been elected from within ... eight decades of homeostatic forces or systemic balance were now being disturbed."

The report describes the "rising expectations" that the new bishop "would be different." There was, Mr. Steinke says, "over idealization of the newly elected bishop, seen as a 'savior' or a 'fresh face'." Further, interviewees stated that "interest groups not empowered by previous regimes, would have an 'in' with the new episcopacy." The result of these changes is that "the inside/outside phenomenon is still believed to be operative, with the former in groups ... now being the out group and ... vocally opposed to Bishop Doss."

The report documents opposition to the bishop in three areas: personal, administrative and ideological. Some of the more severe criticisms termed the bishop "arrogant, condescending ... impatient, impulsive." Administratively, he was faulted for lack of skill in process and money management, undependability, and a "seat of the pants" operational style. On the other hand, some respondents found Bishop Doss "engaging, amiable ... warm, sensitive ... intelligent ... energetic." The Response to Bishop Continuum presents as almost a classic bell curve, with 45 percent saying, typically, "had problems with bishop in one area but like bishop."

Finally, the Steinke report observes that "the vast majority [of respondents] want immediate attention to the fact that there is 'little direction, little programming, and little staff'" for the work of the diocese. Those interviewed cited a lack of focus or "joint vision": "nothing binds us together as a diocese."

The observation is made that the "anti-Doss group" and the "anti-anti-Doss group" appear to be matching accusations of behavior that is "manipulative, verbally abusive, arrogant." Mr. Steinke asks, "Are there ground rules and processes that need to be in place to hold everyone accountable for their behavior? ... How ... can the system become objective and see its own contributions to its own unhappiness and disappointments?"

The report makes no recommendations. It will be used over the summer by the Wellness Committee, chaired by the Rev. Peter K. Stimpson, to develop a plan of action, to be implemented in the fall.