Bishop Charles E. Bennison
Demands Visitation Rights at
Church of the Good Shepherd
Rosemont PA |
26 February 2002
Bishop Charles E. Bennison Jr.’s latest foray against a leading Forward in Faith/North America parish leaves the two sides in the long-running dispute at least as far apart as ever.
Bennison demands visitation rights at Church of the Good Shepherd, Rosemont. The parish, led by the Rev. Dr. David L. Moyer as rector, rejects Bennison’s demonstrated contempt for scriptural authority as well as his unstinting attachment to the gay rights agenda. Thus Good Shepherd declines to accord him the authority he seeks to practice as chief pastor and teacher.
Bennison on Feb. 19, in a lengthy meeting with Good Shepherd’s vestry, once more sought fulfilment of his demand for an official visit during which he would preach and celebrate the Eucharist. Once more the vestry declined to receive him on such terms.
The bishop, professing his commitment to “diversity” in the Pennsylvania diocese, nevertheless made plain that Good Shepherd’s old-fashioned Anglican orthodoxy falls outside the scope of the diversity he visualizes.
Reminded by a vestry member that Anglican primates had called for outside episcopal oversight in cases like Good Shepherd’s, Bennison replied, “The primates are wrong.”
Throughout the meeting, which lasted several hours, Bennison never wavered in insisting on his right to oversight of a parish that rejects his theological outlook. He seemed particularly vexed by FiF/NA’s plan to put forward later this year a candidate for consecration as a bishop by an overseas primate.
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