From: H. Keuning
Subject: Helen's Conversation with [redacted]
Date: December 23, 2021 at 9:24:19 AM CST
To: The Rev. Canon Alan Hawkins, Alex Cameron, Paul Calvin
Cc: [redacted]

Hello All,

I just wanted to be completely above-board and let you know that [redacted] reached out to me last week and we had a long Zoom conversation last night. [sentence redacted for privacy]. [redacted] and I got to know her and [redacted] during the first stages of their marriage and during her pregnancy with their first child. We have lost touch with one another as she left to [sentence redacted for privacy].

Anyway, we are still FB friends and she reached out to me concerning the BC and our authority to place clergy on leaves of absence. Specifically, she was asking about whether we have considered doing so with Keith Hartsell in response to the ACNATOO release of “Carol’s Story.”

I know we have had general conversations about this matter in our meeting, but I have missed a couple meetings this fall too. So, I haven’t been personally present in any meetings where we have assessed whether Keith Hartzell should be placed on a leave of absence or not. Also, I was a bit surprised that the BC has this authority?

I know we are the “ecclesiastical body” but I, for one, have been a bit fuzzy about where our role begins and where the Province’s role ends at this point. A real bishop is generally someone who has grown in exercising his authority and asserting it. At least psychologically or sociologically, I don’t believe our BC has a firm grasp on our authority or how to assert it in the present situation. Most of its members are either “peers” with Keith Harsell or are non-clergy members (like myself) who are not accustomed to exercising spiritual authority, especially over a priest. And, as a group of 12 different folks, it is difficult to come to a single decision.

Anyway, I know that [redacted] (former BC member) also sent out an email to the entire BC asking about what steps were being taken to address the Keith Hartzell situation. She had sent that out to Brenda & Alex sometime before the clergy retreat to forward on to the rest of the BC, but when I spoke with her last week [redacted] and she mentioned it, I had still not seen that communication from her to the group. I am curious as to what she wanted to communicate to the entire BC.

So, I am just passing along concerns to all of you — my dean, the chair of the BC and the province — to let you know that t have had these conversations and will likely continue to do so. It’s important to me to hear from non-rectors and females in our UMWD on these issues. And most of the time, when I do hear from women, it is voicing concern over the lack of public response or accountability.

Thank you for listening, Helen Keuning