Anglican bishop ordered to resign over relationship with priest appealing decision

One of South Australia's most senior Anglicans has been stripped of his position over an undisclosed relationship with a priest he ordained, in a case described by the church as "a gross ethical failure". 

Following a lengthy investigation, the Anglican Episcopal Standards Board concluded Bishop Keith Dalby breached his ordination vows of honesty, fidelity and integrity.

It found him unfit to hold office and ordered that he either resign or be "deposed from Holy Orders".

But the bishop told the ABC he had lodged an appeal against the decision, which he described as "harsh and disproportionate".

Bishop Dalby was in charge of the Diocese of the Murray, one of three Anglican dioceses in South Australia, when he became "romantically involved" with aspiring priest Alison Dutton in early 2023.

Over the following months, he participated in several decisions related to her career within the church, including supporting her candidacy for priesthood, nominating himself as her direct supervisor and suggesting payments for her.

He ordained her in August 2023 — 10 days before the pair married in a secret civil ceremony in Queensland and then honeymooned in Thailand.

Bishop Dalby did not disclose the relationship to the church until December, at which point he was asked by the Diocesan Council to resign.

He refused and was stood down for more than two years while investigations were underway.

Bishop's position 'untenable'

At hearings in March, the Episcopal Standards Commission, an arm of the church, told the board Bishop Dalby had repeatedly breached the code of conduct for Anglican clergy.

"These were not isolated and unintentional lapses," the commission said, according to a published judgement.

"His position is, with respect, untenable."

The commission also alleged the bishop on several occasions threatened to punish those who opposed his views and "vented his anger towards others by belittling them".

In his evidence, Bishop Dalby was reluctant to accept characterisations that he had bullied or threatened anyone.

He said his relationship with Reverand Dutton formed over time rather than beginning as a "fixed and fully formed commitment", and he did not fully appreciate its implications.

While he understood he would ultimately need to disclose the relationship, he said he struggled with the timing and manner of that disclosure.

The bishop accepted responsibility for his "culpability and lack of candour", but said his motives were not malicious and the evidence did not show he was unfit for office.

Board orders resignation

In its April judgement, the board concluded Bishop Dalby had irreversibly eroded the trust between the clergy and congregation of the diocese.

It found him unfit to hold any ordained role, and ordered that he resign within 21 days or face deposition.

But the direction will not be enforced while his appeal is underway.

In a statement to the ABC, Bishop Dalby accepted the seriousness of the board's findings but said he felt its conclusion was unduly harsh.

"I acknowledge that this constituted a significant error of judgement and a failure to meet the standards expected of me as a bishop of the church," he said.

"While I did not intend harm, I acknowledge that intention does not lessen the consequences of my actions."

The Right Reverend Mark Short, leader of the Anglican Church of Australia, acknowledged the appeal, which he said would be considered by the review tribunal as soon as possible.

"The Anglican Church of Australia is committed to appropriate professional conduct by those entrusted with ordained and lay ministry and to ensuring that any complaint is taken seriously and dealt with properly," he said.