Father Etienne Bowleg has renounced all allegiance as a priest of the Anglican Diocese of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos with immediate effect

Fr Bowleg quits Anglican Church
By KARIN HERIG
kherig@tribunemedia.net:


FATHER Etienne Bowleg has renounced all allegiance as a priest of the Anglican Diocese of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos with immediate effect, Bishop Laish Boyd informed his clergy.

In an unprecedented move in the diocese of the West Indian province, Bishop Boyd stated that Father Bowleg, the former rector of the Holy Trinity Church, informed him of his decision by letter on May 17.

"I accept his renunciation and have acknowledged the same in writing.

"This means that by his own choice, intent and assertion Father Bowleg no longer holds a licence to function in this diocese," Bishop Laish said in a memorandum to the Anglican clergy this week.

This comes just weeks after a protracted court battle involving Father Bowleg and the Anglican Archdiocese came to an end.

In March, Senior Justice Jon Isaacs lifted an injunction that prohibited the removal of Father Bowleg as rector of the Most Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Stapledon Gardens.

Just hours after the ruling, locksmiths were busy on the church grounds changing the locks.

The court battle stemmed from a dispute that had arisen over Father Bowleg's contention that he is 64 years old, although with a 1937 birth certificate, he is recognised by the Anglican Diocese as being 72 - two years beyond the mandatory retirement age for Anglican priests.

Normally, the retirement age of Anglican priests is 65, but the bishop can extend that limit by another five years.

However, under church law, the absolute maximum age for a priest to be allowed to serve is 70.

Bishop Boyd described Father Bowleg's renunciation as a "sad and serious occurrence in the life of the Diocese of the (West Indian) province."

"It is unprecedented in that it comes at the culmination of a chain of events and actions that were disrespectful to, hostile toward and adversarial against the diocese," he said.

Bishop Boyd said he takes the decision to mean that Father Bowleg has renounced fellowship with the Diocese of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Province of the West Indies and all other dioceses and provinces that are in communion with the See of Canterbury, meaning the worldwide Anglican Communion.

"This is the obvious conclusion to the drawn, since, if he were continuing with the Anglican Communion and transferring to another diocese his proper course of action would have been to have asked for letters of commendatory. Up to this point no request for such documentation has been submitted," the bishop said on Wednesday.

Bishop Boyd further wished to impress the seriousness of Father Bowleg's renunciation on the Anglican clergy.

"The lack of a General Licence means that Father Bowleg is not allowed to function - officiate, celebrate, preach, vest, process, sit in the chancel or sit in the sanctuary - at any service or event of the diocese or the province, or under the auspices of the diocese or the province.

"All of the courtesies normally extended to one of our clergy can no longer be extended to him," he said.

"Of course he is welcome to worship in any our services or to attend any of our events as such would be open to all persons who wish to attend same.

"We continue to bear him all goodwill, Christian charity and the prayerful support that we offer to all people," Bishop Boyd added.

The Tribune was unable to reach Father Bowleg for comment yesterday before press time.

Father Bowleg last year also experienced familial challenges when is son, Etienne Bowleg Jr, was charged with 12 offences in connection with a high-speed police chase. These charges include possession of an illegal firearm with the intent to endanger life and causing damage to a police vehicle.

The matter is ongoing before the courts.

May 29, 2010

tribune242

Bahamas Blog International