Church of the Word
STANDING COMMITTEE EXPLAINS REQUEST

Pennsylvania: Letter from the Standing Committee re: Bennison's Resignation

January 29, 2006

Dear Sisters and Brothers of the Diocese of Pennsylvania

We thank you for the patience and concern expressed by many of you over the past few days.

On January 24, 2006, the ten member elected Standing Committee voted to respectfully request the Bishop’s retirement or resignation. This unanimous decision, that was agonizing for all of us, followed years of repeated attempts at reasoning with the Bishop about fiscal management and trust matters, beginning with mediation in the early days of his Episcopacy in 1999. The most recent effort in this direction was held on January 5, 2006 upon the request of the Standing Committee and included representatives of the Standing Committee, the Church Foundation, the Comptroller, the Program Budget Chair, the Chancellor and the Bishop.

The reasons for this vote on January 24, 2006 were the following:

Fiscal management –

• It is our belief that at least $11.6 million has been spent from Diocesan trust funds over the past few years.
• At this point we do not know whether we have $4 million or zero available trust funds to fund the 2006 budget.
• Endowment funds have been used and are gone that had previously provided income for our on-going ministries. The Diocese was forced to propose a mandatory assessment at the last Convention.
• The level of spending is such that we are relying on trust funds, that may no longer exist, to cover a budget deficit for 2006.

Trust -

• We believe that we were misled about the basis upon which capital projects would be funded.
• Failure to mount a timely capital campaign resulted in the use of trust funds instead of the promised capital campaign funds.

We are both surprised and saddened to find ourselves in this position; however, we have an obligation to look after the general welfare of the Diocese. Our energies and resources need to be focused on carrying forth the Gospel of Jesus Christ in ministry and witness. Consequently, after thoughtful and prayerful deliberations, we requested the retirement or resignation of the Bishop.

Yours in Christ,

The Standing Committee
Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania

The Rev. William Wood, President
the Rev. Mary Laney, Vice President
Arlene McGurk, Secretary
the Rev. Samuel Adu-Andoh
Christopher Hart,
the Rev. Glenn Matis
the Rev. Isaac Miller
William Powell
Joseph Suprenuk
Diane-Louise Wormley

END

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