Noel Edison is no longer the choirmaster and organist at the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Elora.
On Aug. 5 the congregation received a pastoral letter explaining Edison’s departure.
“As you know, earlier this year Bishop Bird commissioned an independent third-party resource person to look into deeply concerning allegations reported in the media about the conduct of Mr. Noel Edison, the parish’s organist and choirmaster,” Bishop Susan Bell wrote in the letter.
“After reviewing this matter as it relates to the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Elora, and speaking with any members of the choir and congregation that wished to, as well as Mr. Edison, a report was completed, which I have now received.”
In April Edison was fired as artistic director from the Elora Festival and Elora Singers and resigned as the artistic director from the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (TMC) after an independent investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. The allegations were first made in March.
Gerald Punnett, Edison’s lawyer, said in an email that Edison was refused access to the church’s report.
“The investigator’s parameters were not only to deal with complaints of sexual misconduct but dealings under the Human Rights Act, all of the acts under the working conditions etc.,” Punnett said. “The investigation gave a report that I have no knowledge of what it said, but any allegations of sexual misconduct were and are denied.”
He continued, “Mr. Edison … is disappointed that after 40 years of service he was not given a fair chance to properly defend any of the allegations.”
In her letter Bell said she and the parish’s leadership made the decision to “conclude employment” with Edison as of Aug. 1.
“To those who shared their experience with the resource person, I want to say a profound word of thanks for participating in the process as difficult as this may have been for you,” Bell wrote.
She offered pastoral support through the rector and Reverend Canon Trudy Lebans.
“Going forward, your rector and wardens are steadfast in their commitment to ensuring that St. John’s is a safe and holy place for all people to gather, work and worship,” she said. “They have my full support in this regard and I commend them for their leadership in recent months.”
