Standing Committee Communication
Posted Tuesday, April 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.
The trial will be held at the Philadelphia Marriott, 12th and Market Streets and is expected to take four days. The Court for the Trial of a Bishop consists of five Bishops, two Priests and two adult lay communicants chosen by the General Convention:
The Rt. Rev. Andrew Donnan Smith, Bishop of Connecticut (Chair)
The Rt. Rev. Bruce Edward Caldwell, Bishop of Wyoming
The Rt. Rev. Gordon Paul Scruton, Bishop of Western Massachusetts
The Rt. Rev. George Wayne Smith, Bishop of Missouri
The Rt. Rev. Catherine Elizabeth Waynick, Bishop of Indianapolis
The Rev. Marjorie Ann Menaul, Diocese of Central Pennsylvania
The Rev. Karen Anita Brown Montagno, Diocese of Massachusetts
Ms. Maria Campbell, Birmingham, Alabama
Ms. June Freeman, Akron, Ohio
Within 30 days of the conclusion of the trial, the Court votes as to whether the Bishop committed a canonical offense. For a judgment to be entered against the Bishop, a vote of 2/3 of the members of the Court is required. If fewer than 2/3rds of the members concur in the finding, the Presentment is dismissed.
If there is a vote of a canonical offense, the Bishop, Church Attorney, each Complainant and each Victim will have 30 days to provide the Court with comments regarding the sentence to be imposed.
The Court then votes upon the sentence, which also requires a 2/3rd vote. The Judgment and Sentence are then communicated to each party listed above plus the Standing Committee.
After entry of the Final Judgment, the Bishop may appeal within 30 days to the Court of Review of the Trial of a Bishop. This is a different group of individuals and consists of 9 Bishops elected by the House of Bishops. The Presiding Judge of the Court, upon receiving the Notice of Appeal, shall appoint within 60 days the time for the Hearing on the Appeal.