An internal battle in the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island apparently has ended with Bishop Orris Walker Jr. taking a leave of absence and setting a retirement date of Nov. 14.
The Rev. Richard Brewer, head of the diocese’s Standing Committee, would not say what happened, but he said that Walker had stated at public events that he had been urged to resign earlier this year but had refused.
But now Walker, 66, has taken a leave of absence, and will permanently leave his post in November, according to a diocesan announcement. His leave went into effect June 1.
Walker did not respond to telephone messages and a visit to his house seeking comment. “He’s chosen not to offer any of his own comments at this time,” said diocesan spokesman Canon Kris Lee.
I saw Bp. Walker in action for more than a decade. He was a deeply troubled and dysfunctional man and his personal problems permeated the life of the diocese. Were TEC strictly hierarchical, he would probably have been removed by his superior. As it was, the agony simply lingered on while Bp. Walker played the race card for all it was worth. He also ran a ruthless and deliberate campaign to get rid of orthodox clergy and “turn” parishes toward revisionism. The individual instances of petty spite are too numerous to mention. It gives one no joy to summarize an episcopate in such bleak terms. But it was a blot on the church and has done irreparable harm. One prays for Bp. Walker’s deliverance.