The listening team recommended Eaton bring disciplinary charges against Rohrer.
It isn’t completely clear what led to Rabell-González’s removal, but in a previous statement, the council of the Sierra Pacific Synod said it unanimously decided to vacate the pastor’s call after “continual communications of verbal harassment and retaliatory actions from more than a dozen victims from 2019 to the present.”
Rabell-González, who was considered for bishop in the election that ultimately chose Rohrer, has denied those accusations to Religion News Service.
The Rev. Nelson Rabell-González in 2019. Video screen grab
During the 2021 synod assembly, where he was nominated for bishop, Rabell-González acknowledged allegations against him, saying he was accused of “verbally mistreating a pastoral intern and members of the church staff” in a previous position at a different church.
The pastor, who is Afro-Caribbean, said he had been asked to resign from that church and sign a nondisclosure agreement, which he declined, after members complained about his support for Black Lives Matter and immigrant rights.
In their resignation, Rohrer said that while they remain strong enough to continue serving as bishop, “I believe I would be a poor role model for my black trans children if I continued in this position.”
Rohrer said they remain proud of what the synod has accomplished, especially a $1 million donation to the Sierra Pacific Outdoors project.
“I hope you will continue to support and work on this important project to provide wellness and spiritual support for youth, young adults, families and diverse individuals,” the statement read.
National reporter Emily McFarlan Miller contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared here.
