Standing Committee Communication  posted May 01, 2008

WAPITI – A summary of key events and decisions since 2003

In January, 2003, The Conservation Fund (the Fund) a Washington D.C.-based non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of large tracts of land, joined in partnership with the Diocese to acquire Wapiti Farm, a 616 acre tract with a mile of waterfront on the Elk River, a tributary of the Chesapeake. The Diocese contributed $3 million to that property acquisition by the Fund. The agreement between the Fund and the Diocese contemplated that the Fund would be bought out, and its investment recovered, with funding from various government programs.

Standing Committee Communication  posted Apr 29, 2008

Ecclesiastical Trial

Jun 9 | Philadelphia Marriott

The Standing Committee has been advised by the Church Attorney that the Ecclesiastical Trial of the Right Reverend Charles E. Bennison, Jr., on the Presentment dated October 29, 2007 on charges filed by the then Presiding Bishop, Frank Griswold, has been scheduled for June 9, 2008. The trial will be conducted in Philadelphia and will be open to the public.

Standing Committee Communication  posted Apr 09, 2008

Diocesan Voices

In his recent Eastertide column, Bishop Allen Bishop reminded us that “We are now called to live as the wounded but risen Body of Christ, bearers of forgiveness, hope, and joy”. Although it might be easy to fall into the trap of focusing on how “our spirits here are troubled,” I wanted to share some of the other messages that we have received over recent weeks. I thank those who penned these messages and allowed me to share them with you.

Standing Committee Communication  posted Apr 02, 2008

Announcement of Open Forum

Apr 27 | 4-6pm | St. Mary’s, Wayne

The Standing Committee invites all in the Diocese to an Open Forum on Sunday, April 27, 2008, at St. Mary’s Church, Wayne from 4-6 p.m. Please join The Rt. Rev. Allen Bartlett, Assisting Bishop Pro Tempore, and the Standing Committee in a conversation about the Diocese.

Standing Committee Communication  posted Mar 24, 2008

Moratorium on the Ordination Process

A Letter from The Standing Committee And the Commission on Ministry

The canons of The Episcopal Church require bishops to oversee the entire ordination process. Our diocesan bishop, The Rt. Rev. Charles E. Bennison, Jr., has been inhibited by the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church and cannot function as a bishop pending outcome of his trial. Although the Standing Committee serves as the Ecclesiastical Authority during this time, it cannot assume a bishop’s role in the ordination process.

Standing Committee Communication  posted Mar 14, 2008

Standing Committee Saturday Retreat

On Saturday March 8, 2008 the Standing Committee met at St. Thomas’, Whitemarsh, for a day of reflection and discussion of our role as ecclesiastical authority for our diocese. Woodi Sprinkel, an experienced church consultant, guided our discussions. Present were Glenn Matis, President, D-L Wormley, Vice-President, Bill Powell 2nd vice president, Arlene McGurk, secretary and Bill Wood, Joe Suprenuk, Ike Miller, Christopher Hart, Joy Segal. The only one missing was Sam Adu-Andoh who is recovering from surgery. We missed him and pray for his recovery.

Standing Committee Communication  posted Feb 29, 2008

Ecclesiastical Trial scheduled

The Standing Committee has been advised by the Church Attorney that the Ecclesiastical Trial of the Right Reverend Charles E. Bennison, Jr., on the Presentment dated October 29, 2007 on charges filed by the then Presiding Bishop, Frank Griswold, has been scheduled for June 9, 2008. The trial will be conducted in Philadelphia and will be open to the public. The exact location of the trial has not yet been determined.

Selected Mailings online  posted Feb 05, 2008

Bishop Bartlett begins ministry as Assisting Bishop Pro Tempore

From: The Standing Committee
Date: February 5, 2008

Dear Diocesan Family:

We are pleased to announce that Bishop Allen L. Bartlett has agreed to be the Assisting Bishop Pro Tempore while we maintain our search for an Assisting Bishop. We continue to work with Bishop Clay Matthews of the Presiding Bishop’s Office in this endeavor.

Selected Mailings online  posted Jan 25, 2008

Candidates for Assisting Bishop

From: The Standing Committee
Subject: A message from the Standing Committee
Date: January 22, 2008

Dear Diocesan Family:

We have endeavored to call an Assisting Bishop since November 3, 2007. Two candidates were under serious consideration. One withdrew from consideration in mid-December. On Friday, January 18, 2008 another bishop withdrew from consideration.

Around the Diocese  posted Jan 25, 2008

Standing Committee Responds to Old Abuse Case

Download the Resolution for more information.

Around the Diocese  posted Nov 07, 2007

A Letter from the Presiding Bishop

Download a copy of this letter

November 6, 2007

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

Grace to you and peace. I am writing you at this time following the events of the Presentment and Inhibition of the Rt. Rev. Charles Bennison, with the hope of clarifying some points that have been raised both within and outside the Diocese of Pennsylvania.

Around the Diocese  posted Nov 02, 2007

Statement Concerning the Presentment and Inhibition Issued Against Bishop Bennison

On Tuesday, October 30, 2007, the members of the Standing Committee and Michael F. Rehill, Special Counsel to the Standing Committee, had a meeting with the Right Reverend F. Clayton Matthews, Bishop for Pastoral Development, Office of Pastoral Development of the Episcopal Church; David Beers, Chancellor to the Presiding Bishop; and his assistant, Mary E. Kostel. At that meeting Chancellor Beers permitted the members of the Standing Committee to read the Presentment against Bishop Bennison which had been issued the prior day, and gave them copies of a draft of the Inhibition which the Presiding Bishop intended to issue with the consent of a majority of the members of the Standing Committee. After a full and frank discussion, all ten members of the Standing Committee gave consent to the Inhibition.

Inhibition

Download the Official Inhibition

From: The Presiding Bishop
Subject: Inhibition of The Rt. Rev. Charles E. Bennison, Jr.
Date: October 30, 2007