By David W. Virtue
Virtue Online
November 6, 2010
http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=13505
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Delegates to the 227th Diocesan Convention of the Diocese of Pennsylvania voted overwhelmingly for Bishop Charles Bennison to resign. 476 secret ballots were cast, 341 in favor of the resolution, 134 voted against the resolution.
Bennison thanked the diocesan convention for its voting and when asked to comment, refused to say anything and proceeded to continue with the business of the convention.
Proposers of the resolution focused almost entirely on the abuse and cover-up of his bother's sexual abuse of a minor, citing various things Bennison has said, recently and generally, as well as his unrepentant and self-justifying attitude.
Bennison remained expressionless throughout the vote and discussions. Following the vote, he continued on as if it had never happened. Assistant Bishop Rodney Michel presided during that vote.
When the vote was announced following lunch, there was no reaction in the crowd.
A number of delegates did not come to the convention because they are disgusted by Bennison's return.
At the morning Eucharist, most people avoided Bennison and moved their positions to take communion from Bishop Michel. A number of delegates also refused to attend Morning Prayer.
Bishop Marshall
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Just hours before the convention began, Bishop Paul Marshall of Bethlehem, PA, wrote a letter to the delegates and Bennison calling on him to resign.
Arguing that it was extraordinary for a neighboring Bishop to intervene in the deliberations of another Diocese, and that the episcopal relationship had not worked out to the advancement of God's reign, Marshall then called on Bennison to resign his office.
"I did not join in the discussion or the vote of the House of Bishops against him (the outcome was clear from Day One, as it too often is in that body), still hoping against hope that a resolution could be reached. I still believe that without chimerical canonical intervention, there simply comes a time to call it quits, and I hope that for the sake of our common mission, this will happen in the Diocese of Pennsylvania.
"It is with enormous reluctance that I state my belief that change in leadership, perhaps on more than one level, is necessary, despite any legalities that may be invoked."
Earlier in the week Christ Church, Philadelphia, announced, by a unanimous vote of its Vestry, that they will not contribute its Episcopal Assessment for 2011. Christ Church will increase its contribution to the Program Budget for 2011 by the amount of its Episcopal Assessment.
Earlier this year, the Standing Committee of the diocese called on Bennison to resign. A number of individual priests including Frank Allen, (St. David's) and Todd Cederberg (Good Samaritan) also asked Bennison to step down.
Bennison has steadfastly refused to leave. An ecclesiastical appeals court overthrew charges against Bennison based on the statute of limitations, but still maintained that Bennison's actions were unbecoming a member of the clergy.
Delegates were charged $75.00 to attend the convention, a charge that infuriated some delegates.
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