As of 2021, Bishop Susan Goff is the Acting Ecclesiastical Authority of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia. The appointment follows the abrupt resignation of Bishop Shannon Johnston due to problems relating to his leadership, followed by the all-too-predictable collapse of the search for a Bishop Interim.
The problem with Susan Goff is that she is morally bankrupt.
Why do I say that?
I say that because in her role as bishop, she has signed off on the diocesan decision to turn a blind eye to Episcopal priest Bob Malm’s perjury. Malm is canonically resident in the diocese, and inter alia committed perjury in a lawsuit he brought against me. He subsequently committed perjury in a related case in Massachusetts, and engaged in spoliation of adverse evidence, multiple instances of witness tampering, and more.
On what basis did Goff take a pass on Malm’s misconduct?
Simply put, she did so on the basis that Malm has not faced criminal charges for his perjury. That, despite the fact that church canons specifically forbid deceptive conduct by clergy.
Nor is Goff unaware of the underlying issues. I have corresponded with her many times, and I currently have a lawsuit going against the diocese and, by extension, her. In fact, I contacted her and Shannon Johnston when perjuring priest Bob Malm tried to drag my mother, dying of COPD, into court in violation of Pennsylvania state law. Neither had the integrity or basic human decency to even respond.
Needless to say, my advice is simple: Any denomination in which the ethical standard is “no jail, no foul,” is not even Christian. And while Goff may dress like a bishop, she is one in name only.
Susan Goff is morally bankrupt.