A Letter from Bishop Dave Bena to CANA Leaders

received by e-mail
11/12/07

My Dear Brothers and Sisters of CANA

Having just gotten back from a glorious retreat in Nigeria, with bishops reporting that three hundred new congregations have been started there since this past March! I am puzzled by the article in the Living Church and related articles regarding some disciplining of me by the House of Bishops. Here are some facts:

1) I have not been contacted by anyone in the Episcopal Church. I know of no Presentments against me.

2) Last Spring, I wrote to Bishop Jefforts-Schori notifying her that I had been transferred by Letter Dimissory from the Diocese of Albany to the Church of Nigeria, and asking her to remove me from the Episcopal Church. She wrote me back a very gracious letter in which she said in part: "Thank you very much for your letter of March 6, 2007 informing me that you have been enrolled in the Anglican Province of Nigeria. I have informed the Secretary of the House of Bishops and the Recorder of Ordinations that by this action you are no longer a member of the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church nor are you enrolled as a person in any order of the Episcopal Church."

That pretty much locks it up. I did what I was supposed to do and she did what she was supposed to do. Therefore, why "discipline" should come my way by the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church baffles me. I don't belong to the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church!

3) The Living Church article seemed to indicate that I failed to ask the House of Bishops to allow me to resign. The only place I can find anything remotely like asking the Bishops to release me is in the Constitution, and that refers to Bishops with Jurisdiction. As a Suffragan, I had no jurisdiction, but acted under the authority of the Diocesan Bishop. Besides, when the Presiding Bishop notifies the Secretary of the House of Bishops that I am no longer a member of the House of Bishops, that would seem to handle any Canons related to resigning from the House of Bishops.

Perhaps this was just a misunderstanding. I'm sure no one in the House of Bishops would try to trump up charges against me, so maybe those who are the source of the article did not know that Katharine Jefforts Schori wrote that she was notifying the Secretary of the House of Bishops that I was no longer a member of that body.

4) As a matter of conscience, I have not functioned sacerdotally in any Episcopal parishes since retirement, except two in Albany by permission of the Bishop. My visitations are to CANA parishes not associated with the Episcopal Church.

5) Meanwhile, I pray for all of you as you reach out to people with the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ. Isaiah 12 comes to mind, "Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name; make his deeds known among the peoples; see that they remember that his Name is exulted. Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things, and this is known in all the world. Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy, for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel."

Thank you for being such a fine, dedicated group of Anglicans. I look forward to seeing you at the CANA Council in December.

May God bless you richly, my beloved brethren.

David Bena
Suffragan Bishop, CANA

For more information, see the CANA web site
http://www.canaconvocation.org/