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TIMELINE: The making and breaking of an Episcopal bishop

TIMELINE: The making and breaking of an Episcopal bishop

By Mary Ann Mueller
VOL Special Correspondent
www.virtueonline.org
May 9, 2015

Heather Cook was an Episcopal bishop for less than a year. VOL has put together a detailed timeline of her rise and her scandalous downfall from grace

--EARLY YEARS--

Sept. 21, 1956: Heather Elizabeth Cook was born in Syracuse, NY to the Rev. Halsey Moon Cook and Marcia Mary Cook.

1961-1981: Heather Cook's father, the Rev Halsey Moon Cook, was rector of historic St. Paul's in Baltimore, originally founded in 1692. She was raised in the Old St. Paul's rectory with five siblings. Thiers was a close-knit family.

--SCHOOL YEARS--

1974-1976: Attended Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

1976-1977: Attended University of Exeter, Devon, England

1977-1978: Attended Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

1981-1984: Worked as a redactor -- Waverly Press, Baltimore, Maryland

1984-1987: Attended General Theological Seminary, New York, New York. Met fellow seminarian Mark Hansen.

June 20, 1987: Ordained deacon by Bishop Theodore Eastman (XII Maryland)

April 30, 1988: Ordained priest by Bishop Heath Light (IV Southwestern Virginia)

--CHURCH EMPLOYMENT HISTORY--

1987-1990: Chaplain -- Stuart Hall School, Staunton, Virginia

1989: Heather Cook's father, the Rev. Halsey Moon Cook died. Her mother Marcia Mary Cook is still living.

1990-1994: Assistant Rector -- St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Bedford, New York

1994-2004: Rector -- St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, York, Pennsylvania

2004-2005: Canon for Mission -- Episcopal Diocese of Central New York

2005-2014: Canon to the Ordinary -- Episcopal Diocese of Easton

--MARK HANSEN--

July 2005: The Rev. Mark Hansen, rector of St. John's Church, Bristol, Connecticut was the first of the "Connecticut Six" to be inhibited by Bishop Andrew Smith (XIV Connecticut) for abandonment of communion. The initial conflict between the "Connecticut Six" and Bishop Smith came because the Connecticut bishop approved the consecration of non-celibate openly gay Bishop Vicky Gene Robinson (IX New Hampshire) in 2003.

Jan. 2006: Bishop Andrew Smith (XIV Connecticut) deposed The Rev. Mark Hansen, formerly rector of St. John's Church, Bristol, Connecticut and one of the "Connecticut Six."

June 2009: Mr. Mark Hansen became Executive Director of St. Paul's Cathedral Trust in America.

--2010--

Sept. 10, 2010: Cook was arrested at 2 a.m. by a Caroline County, Maryland, sheriff's deputy and charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving, negligent driving, and having marijuana and drug paraphernalia in her possession. She had a blood-alcohol content of 0.27 percent -- more than three times Maryland's legal limit of .08. She was so drunk she could not stand up.

Sept. 15, 2010: The Times Record, the Caroline County weekly newspaper, reported Cook's arrest with headline: "Woman charged with pot possession, drinking, reckless driving". There was no mention of Cook being a member of the clergy.

Oct. 25, 2010: Cook received probation before judgment, ordered to pay $357.50 in fine and court costs, and undergo alcohol and drug evaluation and treatment. The marijuana possession and paraphernalia charges were dropped.

--2013--

September 2013: Diocese of Maryland began search for bishop suffragan.

October 2013: First candidate screening. Diocese of Maryland conducted Initial screening of potential nominees for bishop suffragan. Cook was one of 23 candidates who made a direct application for the bishop suffragan position.

November 2013: Diocese of Maryland Bishop Suffragan Search Committee interviewed potential nominees. Background checks for each semi-finalist completed by Oxford Documents investigator.

December 2013: Second candidate screening. Diocese of Maryland Bishop Suffragan Search Consultant informs denominational officer in charge of bishop searches and Search Committee co-chairs about Cook's 2010 DUI revealed in background check questionnaire. Bishop Sutton informed of Cook's DUI. Search Committee co-chairs interview Cook about 2010 DUI.

--2014--

January 2014: Third and last candidate screening. Search Committee presented the final slate for bishop suffragan to Diocese of Maryland Standing Committee for approval. Standing Committee informed that one candidate (unidentified) has a DUI. Standing Committee discusses and accepts final slate. Bishop Sutton conducts requisite bishop-to-bishop conversation with Bishop James Shand, (X Easton) about Cook. Bishop Shand recommended Cook without concerns or reservations.

Former Episcopal priest Mark Hansen became lay pastor of St. Clement's Episcopal Church in Massey, Maryland, a small Episcopal congregation (ASA 13) in the Diocese of Easton.

Jan. 23-25, 2014: Bishop suffragan discernment retreat.

Feb. 2, 2014: Diocese of Maryland announced an all female-slate of nominees for bishop suffragan including: Canon Heather Cook (Diocese of Easton); Canon Victoria Sirota (Cathedral of St. John the Divine - New York); and the Rev. Nancy Gossling (Christ Church Cathedral - Dublin, Ireland).

February 2014: Diocese posted background information on candidates for bishop suffragan. Cook was vague on the details of her life. She referred to Mark Hansen -- a divorced father -- only as her "steady companion" in her autobiography without naming him. Cook was encouraged by Bishop Sutton and Standing Committee President Sandy Criscimagna to publicly discuss her 2010 DUI at "Meet and Greet" events. Diocese issues guiding principles for discerning the next bishop suffragan: "Pray regularly for each nominee by name; read the materials provided online regarding each nominee, and be open to the working of the Holy Spirit; and understand that the Meet and Greet events are the only appropriate forum for getting to know each nominee, and for the nominees to get to know the ministries and members of the diocese."

March 2014: Diocese of Maryland Search Committee's work was completed. The Transition Committee became responsible for process going forward, including conveying further public information about nominees.

April 2014: Cook participated in public "Meet and Greet" events with bishop suffragan nominees. She alluded to a "difficult time in her life," but did not explicitly mention the details of the 2010 DUI.

May 2-3, 2014: Diocese of Maryland 230th Annual Convention convened to elect bishop suffragan

May 3, 2014: Cook elected bishop suffragan on the fourth ballot with 81 lay and 84 clerical votes out of 304 possible votes representing 140 lay and 164 voting clergy delegates. Cook led in every ballot cast.

Summer 2014: Bishop-elect Cook completed the required psychiatric exam administered through the Presiding Bishop's office. Details are confidential to only the Presiding Bishop's office.

Aug. 7, 2014: The Presiding Bishop's office notified the Diocese of Maryland that Heather Cook had successfully completed the canonical consent process.

Sept. 4, 2014: Bishop Sutton suspected that Bishop-elect Cook might have been inebriated during a private pre-consecration dinner.

Sept. 5, 2014: Bishop Sutton conveyed a concern about Bishop-elect Cook's drinking to Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori. Presiding Bishop indicated she would discuss it with Bishop-elect Cook.

Sept. 6, 2014: Heather Cook became the 20th woman to be consecrated an Episcopal bishop as the fourth bishop suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland at Church of the Redeemer in Baltimore.

October 2014: Bishop Clay Matthews from the Office of Pastoral Development for The Episcopal Church, met with Cook. Details confidential to only the Presiding Bishop's office. Bishop Sutton believed that the Presiding Bishop's Office was dealing with the Cook's drinking problem.

Nov. 9, 2014: Bishop Cook served as celebrant and preacher at All Saints Episcopal Church, Reisterstown, Maryland. Sermon "Be Prepared" was videotaped.

Nov. 13, 2014: YouTube posts video of Bishop Cook's sermon "Be Prepared" where she used driving as an analogy. She said, "Things happen suddenly, and we're either prepared in the moment or we're not, and we face the consequences. We can't go back. We can't do it over. ... If we routinely drive 55 in a 30-mile-an-hour zone, we won't be able to stop on a dime if driving conditions get dangerous or if an animal or, God forbid, a human being should step out in front of us. ... In real life, there are no instant replays."

--CHRISTMAS WEEK 2014--

Dec. 27, 2014: Midafternoon Heather Cook was headed toward Maryland's Eastern Shore when she allegedly hit bicyclist Thomas Palermo with her car in the 5700 block of Roland Avenue in north Baltimore. Police record the accident happened at 2:36 p.m. Cook did not call 911. Cook allegedly left the scene of the accident, then drove by the accident scene and left a second time. A biker chases the fleeing green 2001 Subaru to get license plate number as it enters the gated Elkridge Estates apartment complex.

Cook allegedly returned to her Elkridge apartment where she called Diocese of Maryland Canon to the Ordinary Scott Slater before returning to the scene "to take responsibility for her actions." Palermo died at Sinai Hospital. Cook's blood alcohol level was .22. The police take her Maryland driver's license and give her a restricted DR-15 temporary paper driver's license.

Dec. 28, 2014: Maryland Bishop Eugene Sutton placed Bishop Cook on immediate paid administrative leave "because the nature of the accident could result in criminal charges. The Baltimore Brew reports that Bishop Sutton, in an e-mail to his clergy, did not consider the fatal accident a "hit and run" because Cook "returned after about 20 minutes to take responsibility for her actions." The media uncovered the 2010 drunk driving incident.

Dec. 29, 2014: Witnesses disputed Cook's claim she returned to the accident scene within 20 minutes. The Baltimore Brew reports it was closer to 45 minutes.

Dec. 30, 2014: The Diocese of Maryland acknowledged that it knew about Canon Cook's 2010 DUI but had forgiven her because "it was determined that this one mistake should not bar her for consideration as a leader," and "we cannot preach forgiveness without practicing forgiveness and offering people opportunity for redemption

Dec. 31: 2014: Bishop Cook's YouTube "Be Prepared" sermon at All Saints Episcopal Church in Reisterstown, Maryland came to light. Cook was also criticized for not spiritually ministering to a dying man.

--JANUARY 2015--

Jan. 2, 2015: Backlash mounted following the revelation that Heather Cook's 2010 drunk driving charge was known by the Diocese of Maryland but not shared with the electorate. The Diocese is accused of withholding vital information during the bishop suffragan search process.

Jan. 3, 2015: Thomas Palermo funeral held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Towson, Maryland.

Jan. 4, 2015: Bishop Eugene Sutton summoned all the clergy of the Diocese of Maryland to special meeting on Tuesday (Jan. 6) to discuss the Heather Cook case.

Jan. 6, 2015: Diocese of Maryland clergy learned the details of Bishop Cook's accident in a special closed-door meeting at the Bishop Claggett Center.

The Office of the Presiding Bishop launched Title IV disciplinary investigation

Jan. 7, 2015: Police continue to investigate Cook's hit and run. Charges are yet to be filed.

Jan. 8, 2015: Marilyn Mosby sworn in as Baltimore City State's Attorney. Seeking swift justice, she tackles Cook-Palermo fatal hit and run as her first case.

Retired Bishop Robert Ihloff (XIII Maryland), one of Cook's co-consecrators, criticized Cook for not stopping to render aide after the accident happened.

The Diocese acknowledged that the voting delegates did not know of Cook's previous 2010 DUI before they voted for her to be bishop suffragan although the Bishop Suffragan Search Committee did know of Cook's previous DUI incident but did not share the information.

Jan. 9, 2015: Heather Cook charged with a mixture of criminal and traffic charges including: vehicular manslaughter, criminal negligent manslaughter, driving under the influence resulting in a homicide, use of a text-messaging device while driving resulting in an accident, duty of the driver to remain at an accident resulting in death, duty of the driver to remain at the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily injury, duty of the driver to remain at an accident resulting in death, duty of the driver to remain at the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily injury, and driving under the influence of alcohol.

Jan. 12, 2015: Bail review hearing for Bishop Cook held. Defense attorney Jose Molina -- the second member of Cook's criminal defense team -- argues bail should be set at $500,000. Bail remains at $2.5 million. She appeared via video linkup. Cook surrendered her temporary driver's license to the court.

Jan. 13, 2015: Bishop Sutton issued a Pastoral Letter to the Diocese of Maryland concerning Bishop Cook's accident and aftermath. He wrote that he had been "absolved" of responsibility by a fellow bishop.

WBAL reported that prosecutors said Cook did not apply the brakes on her car during the crash that killed Thomas Palermo. Police stated there were no skid marks at the accident scene.

Jan. 14, 2015: The Baltimore Sun reported that The Episcopal Church is going to reassess the way that bishops are selected and vetted in light of the systematic breakdown in Heather Cook's elevation to the bishopric.

Jan. 16, 2015: Race Radio reports that Bishop Cook's "steady companion," former Episcopal priest Mark Hansen, posted the $2.5 million bail in the form of a $35,000 check purportedly from St. Paul's Cathedral Trust in America, and a signed promissory note for $2,150,000 payable at $1,000 a month for 18 years (215 months

Jan. 22, 2015: Diocese of Maryland Standing Committee met to determine Cook's fate.

Jan. 26, 2015: Diocese of Maryland Standing Committee drafted a letter asking Cook to resign as bishop suffragan in the "best interests of the church and its people."

Jan. 28, 2015: Diocese of Maryland Standing Committee's letter asking Cook to resign became public

Jan. 29, 2015: The Baltimore Sun unearths the October 25, 2010 audio tape of Canon Cook's Kent County court appearance in Chestertown, Maryland where her Denton, Maryland attorney Dennis Farina pleads with District Court Judge John Nunn for leniency for "Miss Cook." Cook tells the judge "I'm regarding this as a major wakeup call in my life ..." Judge Nunn reads her the riot act.

--FEBRUARY 2015--

Feb. 3, 2015: Both The Baltimore Sun and The Baltimore Brew reported that Bishop Cook was apparently drunk at the Sept. 4, 2014 pre-consecration dinner hosted by Bishop Sutton.

Feb. 4, 2015: The Baltimore City Grand Jury piled on additional charges and formally indicted Bishop Cook on 13 various criminal and traffic charges ranging from texting, driving while under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident, negligent and reckless driving, to homicide by motor vehicle, criminally negligent homicide, and counts of automobile and vehicular manslaughter. Arraignment was set for March 5.

Feb. 5, 2015: Bishop Sutton said he was not aware that Cook was dealing with an on-going drinking problem, that he and others in-the-know diocesan officials "viewed her 2010 DUI as a one-time incident."

Feb. 6, 2015: Initial court date cancelled due to grand jury indictments. Original Case Number 2B02285572, opened on Jan. 9 in Baltimore City District Court, was closed. The Cook matter is moved to Baltimore City Circuit Court because of the serious nature of her criminal traffic offenses.

Feb. 9, 2015: Episcopal House of Bishops President the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, issues statement calling for The Episcopal Church to rethink the way it selects bishops. The Task Force for Reimagining the Episcopal Church proposes Resolution A002 asking the 2015 General Convention to authorize a task force to recommend a new process for selecting bishops. She also questions how deep the problem with alcohol and alcoholism goes in The Episcopal Church. She is going to appoint "a House of Deputies Special Legislative Committee on alcohol and other drug abuse to review the General Convention's 1985 policy on alcohol and drug abuse." Bowing to pressure the ER&D Beehive Pub beer tasting event has been renamed: "An Evening with Bill Miller." In The Episcopal Church's culture of alcoholic Episcopalians are jokingly called Whiskeypalians" and the adage goes: "Where ever two or three are gathered together you shall always find a 'fifth'" to describe Episcopal social gatherings.

Feb. 10, 2015: As a part of the on-going Title IV process, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori further restricted Bishop Heather Cook's ministry under Canons IV.7(3), (4) and IV.17(2). Cook is not permitted to "exercise or engage in the ordained ministry" of The Episcopal Church. She is forbidden from participating "in any functions of the House of Bishops" and is forbidden from presenting herself as an ordained person in good standing with the church.

Feb. 12, 2015: Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori issued a statement on "Healing and Wholeness" about the unfolding events in the Diocese of Maryland. The Baltimore Sun reported that the Diocese of Maryland Bishop Suffragan Search Committee only knew of Cook's DUI incident but not the full details.

Feb. 13, 2015: Virtue Online uses biblical principles to explain " Why the Episcopal Church got it Wrong on the Selection of Bishop Cook." VOL quotes I Timothy 3 -- outlining the qualifications for bishops -- as the benchmark in the selection process. I Timothy 3:3 cautions against the drunkard, the violent, the quarrelsome and the greedy becoming bishops.

Feb. 17, 2015: Wikipedia page created for Heather Cook.

Feb. 18, 2015: Bishop Sutton's issues an Ash Wednesday mia culpa in the form of a Lenten Message to the Diocese of Maryland. He apologized on Ash Wednesday for failing to recognize the "warning signs" that Heather Cook suffers from alcoholism. He humbly repented upon "relying on the information we were given rather than insisting on getting more detailed information about her earlier arrest." He regretted shortcomings in the selection process, which allowed Cook to become bishop suffragan and he pledged to work to "revise a process that failed us at some crucial points."

--SPRING 2015--

March 5, 2015: In the wake of the Palermo-Cook fatal drunk driving hit and run accident, the General Assembly of Maryland made moves to tighten drunk driving laws. Cook's previously scheduled arraignment postponed.

March 7, 2015: The Baltimore Sun ran an expose into Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori highlighting the fact that she withheld information from her former diocese (Episcopal Diocese of Nevada) when she brought in an ousted Roman Catholic monk-priest the late Bede Parry, who she knew to be a child molester and his "proclivity to reoffend with minors."

April 2, 2015: Heather Cook came to court and accepted a June 4, 2015 trial date. By doing so, "there's an inferential plea of not guilty to all the charges" against her. The Palermo family was disappointed in her non-plea, hoping she would have pled guilty.

April 26, 2015: Trail for Baltimore Circuit Court Case Number 115035007, Maryland v. Heather Cook, was set for 9:30 a.m., June 4, 2015 in Court Room 600 of the Clarence Mitchell Courthouse, the Honorable Wanda K. Heard, presiding.

April 30, 2015: Bishop Heather Cook marked 27 years as an ordained Episcopal priest.

May 1, 2015: Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori announced that the Title IV process against Maryland's bishop suffragan had been completed reaching an Accord with Heather Cook who was deposed. She was stripped of all Holy Orders -- deacon, priest and bishop and returned to the title Miss Cook. The Diocese of Maryland announced that the Diocese and Cook have reached a Negotiated Letter of Agreement whereby she resigns as bishop suffragan there by losing her salary and other benefits.

May 6, 2015: Heather Cook's name remains on the Episcopal Church Publishing Internet Clergy Quick Find site along with all information about her ordinations and her connection to the Diocese of Maryland.

June 4, 2015: Cook's trial date in the Baltimore City Circuit Court. If found guilty, she could face a combined maximum penalty of at least 39 years in prison and a $39,000 fine, depending on whether her 2010 drunk driving arrest and subsequent 'probation before judgment' sentence is considered a first offense.

Mary Ann Mueller is a journalist living in Texas. She is a regular contributor to VirtueOnline

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