Elspeth Kernebone
16 January 2024
An Australian Anglican bishop who stood aside after concealing his marriage to a junior priest under his supervision has acknowledged his decisions were “suboptimal”.
Bishop of The Murray Keith Dalby stood aside on 8 December after secretly marrying the Reverend Alison Dutton, an assistant curate in his diocese, in Queensland on 22 August.
Bishop Dalby said he and Ms Dutton had wanted to be transparent about the relationship, but had felt constrained by church structures. He said they had planned to reveal the marriage in early 2024.
Anglican Primate of Australia Archbishop Geoff Smith said the situation raised questions about transparency, conflict of interest, professional boundaries and trust.
Read more: Historical first as women priests ordained in Diocese of The Murray
The Diocese of The Murray sits in the southeastern part of South Australia, incorporating 13 parishes including some in south Adelaide. Bishop Dalby has led the diocese since 2019.
Ms Dutton was among the first women ordained as priests in the diocese, on 12 August 2023.
Bishop Dalby said he and Ms Dutton were married on 22 August in north Queensland, by a civil celebrant.
Bishop Dalby said they had planned the wedding very quickly, realising they had feelings for each other in May or June of 2023, and deciding in July to get married. He said prior to that they had only seen each other three or four times a year.
Bishop Dalby said their reason for keeping the relationship a secret was that he was actually under an Episcopal Standards Board investigation at the time for allegedly having an inappropriate relationship with Ms Dutton in 2022.
“All we were trying to do [in keeping the marriage secret] is be sensitive of the sensitivities of the diocese. That’s what we were trying to do, whether that was right or wrong I don’t know – hindsight is a wonderful thing. You can only do what you can do,” he said.
“There may be an issue of professional boundaries, but quite frankly Alison is 43, and I’m 62 and we’re quite capable of figuring out our own professional space.
“Professional boundaries are really important for vulnerable people, but neither of us are vulnerable people.”
A Diocesan Council spokesperson said the diocese was working through the matters in line with the procedures and protocols of the Anglican Church of Australia, in a way that was sensitive to Bishop Dalby and Ms Dutton and ensured that they were afforded natural justice.
The Murray diocese notified parishioners of the secret marriage as the circumstances around Bishop Dalby’s standing aside in a statement read out at services on 31 December.
The statement said that on 7 December it was revealed that, unknown to the Diocesan Council, Bishop Dalby had married an assistant curate in the Parish of the South Coast.
It said the Diocesan Council considered that the disclosures surrounding the marriage declaration presented insurmountable implications, and Bishop Dalby agreed to step aside at a council meeting on 8 December.
“As you can imagine we are disappointed that it became necessary for Bishop Keith to stand aside but believe it is in the best interests of the Diocese as a whole and for the couple themselves,” the statement said.
Bishop Dalby said the situation was a great opportunity for the diocese to demonstrate forgiveness and reconciliation.
But he said while forgiveness was a response to wrong done, he didn’t know if he would say that that he had done something wrong.
“I’ve made suboptimal decisions. Is getting married wrong? It’s not. Is not telling people about it at the time wrong? Some people would say so, but there’s always extenuating circumstances,” Bishop Dalby said.
“It’s very easy to go back and second judge it and talk about it afterwards. But it’s not always easy to make the best decision at the time.”
A spokesperson for the primate said the Diocese of The Murray was waiting for a response from Bishop Dalby to decide its next steps, which was delayed as he was on personal leave and then annual leave.
The spokesperson said an administrator Archdeacon Simon Waters was filling the role of bishop.
Bishop Smith said it was unfortunate that the situation was likely to be destabilising for the diocese, cause distress and confusion among people within the diocese, and will not assist in the mission of the church.
“I continue to pray for a resolution which provides a just outcome, and the capacity for the diocese to move forward in its ministry,” Bishop Smith said.
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