The Rt. Rev. Joe Morris Doss, Bishop of New Jersey, has rejected the call by two key committees of his diocese that he resign. After being urged to resign by the standing committee and the diocesan council [TLC, Nov. 16], Bishop Doss said he had something else in mind - namely healing and reconciliation.

"After the most profound and prayerful consideration, together with extensive consultation with the Presiding Bishop and many others, I am renewing my commitment to serve as your bishop," he wrote in a pastoral letter.

The letter, dated Oct. 31, the fourth anniversary of his consecration as bishop, noted that in 1993 he "vowed before God to be faithful to you and to my calling.

"You elected me to serve as your bishop and to lead you forward into the third millennium as a united and strong missionary diocese," the letter stated. "Together we shall proclaim the gospel to the people of New Jersey and welcome God's kingdom. Our first step must be to continue the process of healing and reconciliation and to bring it to fruition."

Bishop Doss called for a five-hour meeting with the clergy of the diocese on Nov. 15 at Trinity Cathedral in Trenton, in what he called "the third stage of our healing and reconciliation process."

"I know that there have been numerous accusations published in the newspapers and placed in the rumor mill," Bishop Doss said. "I plan to address them."

"I know there are some of you, especially some clergy, who do not feel they can ever again work with me as their bishop. I believe the gospel has the power to reconcile the most intransigent of adversaries."

He also noted in the letter that many persons "fear that a cloud has been created over my episcopacy which may make it impossible to go forward. I believe God will use this crisis to bring us forward in ways we could not have imagined, that God in Christ will surprise us and bring new life where now we see nothing but chaos and pain."

The Diocese of New Jersey also issued a statement Oct. 31 which revealed that "the press has been used by the bishop's detractors as a venue through which they can spread discord and ill will." Bishop Doss also was quoted in the statement.

"To those whom I have disappointed, I offer my sincere regret and my pledge to work constructively with them toward our reconciliation," he said. "To those who have supported me and my family, I extend my personal and sincere appreciation but also my heartfelt plea that we all hear the concerns of our brothers and sisters with an open heart and mind."

The statement also refers to the actions of the standing committee and the diocesan council.

"The standing committee and diocesan council do not represent the views of all the people in the diocese," it said. "More than 60 clergy have signed a letter calling for the bishop, standing committee and diocesan council 'to work for reconciliation in spirit and in action' and to 'end all attempts to short-circuit the healing process the Wellness Committee has laid before us'.

"The standing committee and diocesan council have no basis in canon law to enforce the bishop's resignation. Their prescribed role is to advise the bishop and their actions can only be taken as advisory."

The statement also referred to "a strategy by a well-organized few, to make it impossible for the bishop to conduct his ministry of reconciliation and healing."

The Wellness Committee issued a report which made recommendations to address a number of problems in the diocese, particularly difficulties with various elements of the bishop's ministry.

"Calling for Joe's resignation is counterproductive," said the Rev. Christopher Sherrill, rector of Trinity Church, Princeton, in an interview with the Trenton Times. "We've got serious problems. But you've got to deal with the whole system to find health. To think that everything will be fine if we get rid of the bishop is a ruinous assumption."

Following its meeting of Oct. 22, the eight-member standing committee issued a letter to the people of the diocese.

"The questions that we as a standing committee had to answer was: Given all of the many issues and conflicts that are around us, from questions of character, trust, and financial impropriety, to an inability to meet the pastoral and administrative needs of a large and diverse diocese, is it possible for the clergy and laity to continue to work together under the leadership of the Rt. Rev. Joe Morris Doss? It has become clear to us that it is not possible.

"Accordingly, after much prayerful and careful deliberations, the standing committee has voted unanimously to call for the resignation of Bishop Doss as the Bishop of New Jersey."

The diocesan council also addressed the diocese in a letter dated Oct. 31. The letter reveals that by a 10-2 vote the council supported the action of the standing committee's request for the bishop's resignation. Four council members did not attend the meeting.

Richard S. Ellwood, treasurer of the diocese, and Robert Y. Garrett III, interim chief financial officer, resigned from those positions because "we have lost all confidence in Joe Morris Doss as our bishop."