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Posted Thursday, February 21, 2008
Complaint filed against Bishop Bennison
Nov 6 | 2006
Read the full text of the Verified Complaint.
On Monday, November 6, 2006, the ten members of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Pennsylvania filed a Verified Complaint with the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church against the Rt. Reverend Charles E. Bennison, Jr., Bishop of Pennsylvania, pursuant to the provisions of Canon IV.3.23(a)(2).
The Verified Complaint sets forth detailed allegations of misconduct by Bishop Bennison which the members of the Standing Committee contend constitutes “Violation of the Canons of the General Convention”; “Violation of the Canons of the Diocese of Pennsylvania”; and “Conduct Unbecoming a Member of the Clergy” in violation of Canon IV.1.1(e), (f) and (j). By the filing of the Verified Complaint, the members of the Standing Committee are formally asking that the charges be presented to the Review Committee for investigation and Presentment.
Under the Canons of the Episcopal Church, when a Verified Complaint against a Bishop has been filed with the Presiding Bishop, the Presiding Bishop shall forward the Charge to the Review Committee at such time as the Presiding Bishop shall determine or when requested in writing by the Complainants or Respondent after 90 days of receipt of the charge by the Presiding Bishop.
The Review Committee consists of five Bishops of this Church, two Priests, and two confirmed adult communicants of this Church in Good Standing. The Bishops on the Review Committee are appointed by the Presiding Bishop and the other members are appointed by the President of the House of Deputies.
Within sixty days after receiving a Charge from the Presiding Bishop, the Review Committee shall convene to consider the Charge. If after such consideration the Review Committee determines that an Offense may have occurred if the facts alleged be true, the Review Committee will prepare a general statement of the charge and the facts alleged to support the Charge, and transmit same to the Church Attorney. The Church Attorney shall then investigate the matter. Within 120 days thereafter, the Church Attorney shall render a confidential report to the Review Committee as to the results of the investigation and make a recommendation as to whether a Presentment shall issue.
Within forty-five days after receiving the report of the Church Attorney, the Review Committee shall convene to consider the report and whether or not a Presentment shall issue. If a majority of the members of the Review Committee vote to issue a Presentment, the Presentment shall be filed with the Presiding Judge of the Court for the Trial of a Bishop, and copies shall be served upon the Presiding Bishop, the Respondent Bishop and each Complainant. The proceeding before the Court for the Trial of a Bishop begins when the Presentment has been filed by the Review Committee.
The Disciplinary Canons of the Episcopal Church can be found at: www.churchpublishing.org