To the People and Clergy of the Diocese of Dallas
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
On 14 May, I informed the Standing Committee and Executive Council that I had sent the following letter to the Presiding Bishop:
On 6 March, 1993, I was consecrated as the sixth Bishop of Dallas. On 6 March next year, 2014, I will complete 21 years in this Office. These have been the most challenging, fulfilling and joyful years of my ministry. I am grateful for the trust vested in me by the People and Clergy of the Diocese, and cherish the many relationships which have developed and deepened over this time.
I have come to the place where I believe it is time to relinquish the responsibilities of the Bishop Diocesan, and permit the Diocese to consider and chart its future mission under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, I herewith submit my resignation effective May 31, 2014. Please proceed with the canonically appropriate next steps.
This is the way we go about retiring from the Episcopate in our Church. But I want to take this opportunity to thank one and all for the gracious way you have received me and Diane, and our whole family, over these last twenty-plus years.
The decision to retire is not easy, but it is right for me at this time.
Diane and I will continue to live in the Diocese of Dallas.
Bishop Stanton elaborates on his decision in this interview by diocesan communicator Bret Williams.
Matthew Townsend is a Halifax-based freelance journalist and volunteer advocate for survivors of sexual misconduct in Anglican settings. He served as editor of the Anglican Journal from 2019 to 2021 and communications missioner for the Anglican Diocese of Quebec from 2019 to 2022. He and his wife recently entered catechism class in the Orthodox Church in America.
