Specifically they charge that on December 22, 2005 Miller summoned the Rev. Martha Ann Englert and two other priests to his diocesan headquarters and interrogated them as part of a personal "investigation". The 16 then filed charges saying that his actions were not in accordance with the Canons of the Episcopal Church and not within his authority under Title IV. They said he should have informed the Standing Committee.

According to papers received by VOL, Miller said that certain "facts" made known by him to the Standing Committee constituted the canonical offense of "conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy in violation of Canon IV" and he was therefore entitled to file charges against her.

Miller issued a "pastoral direction" to Englert saying she had failed to respect the confidential nature of the investigation by the church Attorney, and was charged not to discuss the investigation or charges with parishioners or staff of her church.

As a result the bishop, on April 29, 2006 issued a Presentment against the Rev. Englert and inhibited her and on May 7 when the bishop attended Grace Church in Madison told a parish meeting that Englert faced possible admonishment, suspension or deposition.

The 16 clergy blasted back saying that, under the canons, Englert was presumed innocent and that the burden of proof was on the church's attorney to prove the allegations, and filed their own presentment against the bishop.

Miller later modified the Inhibition saying that Englert was not permitted to wear a clerical collar in public except when she faced trial, and she should not hold herself out as a priest of the church.

Miller did not return calls or an e-mail from VOL asking him to explain his actions.

A priest, who knows him, says "he is one of the power hungry bishops who likes to call himself moderate even conservative but he is a huge company man and execrated by all who seem to run into him."

The source said that up here he is a joke and is known as the "purple pomposity." He has dramatically mishandled this matter. "I don't care if the alleged miscreant is a liberal, I just cannot accept abuse of episcopal power."

Englert is mid trial - the prosecution have had their day and she will have hers.

The Grace Episcopal Church pastor has been portrayed as a power-hungry manipulator who traded secrets about parishioners for influence.

"Information disclosed is power and control at work," Thomas Scrivner, attorney for the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee, said in arguments before a panel of judges at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church. Such abuse of power is a violation of sacred responsibilities more subtle or insidious than sexual or financial scandal, Scrivner said.

Englert is being defended by former Newark chancellor and hardscrabble attorney Michael Rehill.

Rehill told the judges that Englert is a human being with natural emotions and flaws who sometimes is not politically correct in what she says. "But she is a good, kind and devout person ... who lives out her ordination vows with every breath she takes."

Englert is not only accused of disclosing confidential information but also making inappropriate remarks about parishioners and staff members.

If the charges are found to be substantiated, Englert is subject to discipline ranging from censure to removal from the priesthood.

Englert, 52, is a former newspaper reporter who came to historic Grace Church, home to a large homeless shelter and food pantry, in early 2004. According to testimony, among her first goals was to improve the financial footing of the church, which at that point was dipping into its endowment to meet operating costs.

The complaint, or "presentment" against Englert, based in part on allegations by congregation members and church employees, has opened a rift in the community.

Scrivner told the judges that Englert had disclosed information about adultery, financial problems and mental illnesses of parishioners. He also said she boasted of marijuana use, used profanity and mimicked delivering a "communion" of hemlock to irritating church members.

Englert's use of information to tear down those she wanted to diminish "exalted her personal needs above those of parishioners," Scrivner alleged. "Those separated from the flock by her were forced to fend for themselves in their times of greatest need."

Rehill called the prosecution of Englert "a travesty."

"It is a compilation of unrelated incidents strung together to suggest she is unfit for the ministry," he said. At their recent convention Miller was asked where the costs of this were being paid from and he is alleged to have replied about a line of credit from the bank. Costs so far have been in the vicinity of about $50.000, and if he loses, then it will cost a whole lot more. This will give clear evidence that the Presentment will have its own evidence of his abuse of power, said the source.

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