An ecclesiastical trial court has found the Rt. Rev. Charles I. Jones, Bishop of Montana, subject to discipline for sexual misconduct which took place in the early 1980s.

The Court for the Trial of a Bishop already had decided that Bishop Jones was guilty of immorality and conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy. It issued the new ruling in a 26-page document announced Dec. 12.

At an earlier hearing in Minneapolis [TLC, Dec. 10], attorneys for Bishop Jones had argued that he had been disciplined in 1993-94 when charges were brought against him. At that time, after meeting with Presiding Bishop Edmond L. Browning, Bishop Jones took a three-month leave and underwent counseling and treatment.

Bishop Jones, the woman who brought the charges against him, and the church attorney have until Jan. 11 to comment on the sentence to be imposed by the court. The court can impose an admonition, a suspension or a deposition.

After the comments are submitted, the parties involved will have until Jan. 22 to react to each other's comments. A hearing on the sentence will be held Jan. 30 at the office of the lay assessor in Charlotte, N.C.

Bishop Jones will have 30 days to appeal the sentence. An appeal would be sent to a Court of Review comprised of nine bishops.

The ruling, signed by eight of the nine bishops who serve as judges on the court, pointed out that the Presiding Bishop has no authority under church law to regulate the conduct of, punish, or impose discipline on a sitting diocesan bishop.

The court pointed out that the canons provide for what is known as "voluntary submission to discipline" at any time before a case is judged by an ecclesiastical trial court. Voluntary submission to discipline involves a specific procedure that includes a written waiver by the accused bishop and an agreement to accept a sentence imposed by the Presiding Bishop. The court said Bishop Jones never agreed to the canonical process of voluntary submission to discipline.

Episcopal News Service contributed to this article