Due to development fund debts of A$39 million, the Anglican Diocese of Bathurst will face a Supreme Court case against the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) in April next year.
Prior to the court date, the Bishop of Bathurst will need to become a part-time parish priest in the rural New South Wales (NSW) location of Dubbo, and four staff will be let go from his registry.
However, Bishop Ian Palmer did not appear overly upset by his move from the All Saints cathedral in Bathurst, which serves a diocese that accounts for nearly one third of NSW, and explained to ABC News on Tuesday morning:
"My move comes about partly because of the financial circumstances and also partly because as a Bishop I feel a great commitment to model what a parish priest should be ... Really being amongst them and working alongside with them in this role as well I hope will be a great source of encouragement to people".
The new role will be more than familiar for Bishop Palmer, who served as a parish priest for three decades. With an eye on the overall situation, Bishop Palmer added that Bathurst and its cathedral are not going anywhere, while the financial crisis the Anglican diocese is currently facing does not alter his ongoing status as its Bishop.
Part of Bishop Palmer's relatively calm demeanor might be derived from the good run that the diocese has had so far raising the funds it needs for April's Supreme Court case—an estimated $1.5 million is required. Bishop Palmer, who relocates to Dubbo sometime over the next two months, said that he is "confident with God's grace" that his diocese will eventually re-establish itself.