Episcopal Bishop Prince Singh Suspended but Not Deposed After Title IV Investigation Concludes

Prince Singh
The Rt. Rev. Prince Grenville Singh, former provisional bishop of the Episcopal dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan, in Dec. 2022. (Video screen grab/Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan)

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In November, after taking office, Rowe announced he would be assuming the role of presiding bishop in the Title IV cases involving Prince Singh (Rowe’s predecessor, The Most Rev. Michael Curry, had recused himself from these cases, in part due to allegations that he had mishandled the claims against Singh). According to Skofstad, “the canons give the presiding bishop the authority to negotiate an accord with the respondent at nearly any point in the process, including during hearing panel proceedings.”

When Rowe sent drafts of his proposed accord to Prince Singh’s sons and ex-wife, they replied to Rowe, saying the proposal “undermines the Title IV process that we committed to, erodes our trust in the Church, and perpetuates harm to other survivors and the wider Episcopal community,” per emails obtained by RNS. They suggested that the accord over-relied on Rowe’s sole judgment, pointed out Rowe’s lack of psychological expertise and questioned what would happen when Rowe ceased serving as presiding bishop, since Rowe is personally responsible for enforcing many of the terms of the accord. They asked Rowe to distinguish between the two Title IV cases and to either adopt an accord that ends in deposition or move the Title IV process to the hearing panel stage.

In Friday’s announcement, Rowe acknowledged “canonical constraints on the conference panel phase of our Title IV process” that prevented Prince Singh from hearing a full account of the allegations against him and their impact. “By negotiating this accord that will require rigorous therapeutic and relational work, I hope to continue the work begun by the conference panel to foster his repentance and amendment of life,” he wrote. Skofstad noted that the members of the conference panel, which authored the draft order recommending Singh be deposed, also belong to the Disciplinary Board for Bishops, which approved the accord.

Per the terms, Singh will be suspended for at least three more years and after that will return to ministry at the presiding bishop’s discretion, providing Rowe is “satisfied he is fit for ministry.” Singh will also undergo a psychological and psychiatric assessment by a professional designated by Rowe and will “participate in psychological work, education, and training” in domestic abuse, anger management and proper exercise of authority. He is required to address his relationship with alcohol, participate in Title IV trainings and apologize to and visit “people, congregations, and other groups whom I identify and who are willing,” according to Rowe’s announcement.

Singh will be required to participate in reconciliation work with members of the Diocese of Rochester and with his sons and ex-wife if they consent to participate. If he does not appropriately fulfill the terms of the accord — including remaining silent about the “disciplinary matters, the allegations against him, or their resolution” — Rowe will have the “sole authority” to direct the president of the Disciplinary Board of Bishops to depose Singh or remove him permanently from ordained ministry.

“Bishop Singh is grateful for the Presiding Bishop’s devoted efforts to resolve these disputes consistent with the stated aims of Title IV and for his ongoing supervision and guidance,” the statement released on his behalf said. “With God’s help, Bishop Singh looks forward to returning to active ministry and continuing his service to God and The Episcopal Church at some future date.”

In emails to RNS, Nivedhan and Eklan Singh and Suganthy-Singh insisted reconciliation cannot occur with someone who denies the allegations against him.

“This Accord sends a dangerous message: that even when clergy are found to have abused their power, lied to their superiors, and harmed their families and communities, the Church’s priority is to rehabilitate the abuser, not protect the victims,” Nivedhan Singh wrote.

This story has been updated to reflect new statements on behalf of Bishop Prince Singh.

This article originally appeared here

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KathrynPost@churchleaders.com'
Kathryn Post
Kathryn Post is an author at Religion News Service.

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