HALF the members of a Search Committee tasked with vetting candidates to be the next Bishop of Montreal have resigned, referring to unspecified concerns over the diocese’s “Safe Church” policy, and what they describe as “external pressures” on members.

The electoral synod to appoint the next Coadjutor Bishop, who will succeed the Rt Revd Mary Irwin-Gibson as diocesan after they have worked together for several months, is due to happen in May.

But, in a circular issued to the diocese, the nine-member Search Committee said that it was forwarding to the synod all nominations received for consideration by the committee, without any endorsement.

Without supplying any details, it said that members of the committee had resigned, including its chairman, Canon James Pratt, after facing “external pressures” which had deeply affected them.

“It is disheartening that members felt compelled to resign due to the weight of these challenges. However, the entire Committee, both members who are remaining and those who are resigning, remains united in its commitment to the integrity of this process and to the solemn work entrusted to Synod delegates,” the open letter, signed by all members, said.

The letter said that its concerns centred on: “The need for further refinement and clarity within our Safe Church Policy to ensure alignment with best practices and to safeguard the integrity of diocesan leadership selection and the limitations imposed by Canon Law on the Committee’s ability to act in ways that might have further protected the integrity of the ballot.”

The Safe Church policy in the diocese of Montreal applies to “unacceptable behavior, abuse or maltreatment that includes physical or sexual assault, bullying, harassment and/or economic, emotional, physical or sexual misconduct”.

The diocese of Montreal’s diocesan council — its trustee body — issued what it described as a “note of clarification” after receiving the search committee’s report. It assured synod members that the election and nominees met canonical requirements, including Safe Church policy requirements, and could go ahead.

It continued: “The role of the Search Committee is not to endorse any candidates, but rather to confirm that they have been vetted and that the candidates meet all requirements, which the Search Committee has done.”

It said that it would be inviting members of the search committee to discuss future improvements to the process, and, in an acknowledgement of difficulties alluded to in the committee statement, said: “As the world thrives on division and keeping people apart, it is imperative to keep communication open, and we can be an example of how to work through difficulties.

The Executive Archdeacon and Vicar General of Montreal, the Ven. Robert Camara, said on Thursday: “All candidates have met the requirements of the Canon and there are no Safe Church Policy complaints against them.”

The committee was composed of nine members, lay and ordained, including three non-members of the synod. They were given the task of writing the diocesan profile, receiving nominations, and vetting candidates.

The seven nominees for Bishop Coadjutor are: the Revd Rodney Clark, the Revd Dr Teresa Danieley, Canon Neil Mancor, the Ven. Dr Victor-David Mbuyi Bipungu, the Revd Dr Deborah Meister, the Very Revd Bertrand Olivier, and the Revd Graham Singh.

Mr Olivier was ordained in the Church of England in 1996, and served in three parishes in London before becoming Dean of Montreal and Rector of Christ Church Cathedral.

The Revd Singh is Rector of St Jax, a church-plant in the diocese and chief executive of the charity the Relèven Foundation, which helps churches to transform into community hubs and affordable housing. He was also ordained in the Church of England, and served in London in a Holy Trinity, Brompton, church-plant.

According to the news website Living Church, his charity has been taken to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice by the River City Christian Reformed Church, over a dispute over joint property ownership. Mr Singh disputes the claims of the lawsuit, and any wrongdoings.