"The Standing Committee wants to express its continued support of the Bishop and its thanksgiving to the Bishop for his many years of service to this Diocese. While we are indeed in a time of transition, we also have every intention of moving forward with the mission and ministry that God has given to this Diocese. The day to day operations will continue. The Diocesan staff has been assured that there will be no major restructuring. The search process for our next bishop will continue to move forward as well," said a letter from the Standing Committee.

"I met with two members of the Standing Committee on July 7, 2006. They expressed the concern of the Standing Committee that if I continued to serve as Diocesan Bishop that my physical health would be impacted. They suggested that I consider a terminal sabbatical starting now and ending on August 31, 2007, the date that I intended to retire," wrote Rowley.

The bishop said he had been advised by legal counsel that to ensure his pension he would have to serve until August 31, 2007. "I must remain as Diocesan Bishop until that date, but the Standing Committee will be the Ecclesiastical Authority," he said.

Rev. Dennis A. Blauser, President of The Standing Committee told VOL that in an emergency he would be available to "deal with matters requiring ecclesiastical action."

But a source close to the diocese, told VOL, that in his opinion, Rowley was tired of the nonsense in the TEC. "Three years ago, he was on record that he was going to continue to preach The Holy Gospel. For three years he sat on the fence. Those in the diocese who want other Oversight are after him to join the club and the Liberals are on him to stay with them."

The Diocese will elect a Bishop next year; he will resign the day the new Bishop is consecrated. "Griswold and the new Presiding Bishop do not want a Coadjutor in there. I think this announcement should have read "Bishop Runs away to join the Circus". He's an avid golfer," said the source.

END