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The Bishop of Pennsylvania, Charles E. Bennison, today deposed Fr. David L. Moyer rector of Church of the Good Shepherd, Rosemont, saying that Moyer had "abandoned the Communion of the Church by openly renouncing the Discipline of the Church". The Revd Dr David L Moyer was Inhibited for a period of six months commencing March 4, 2002 as mandated by Section 1 of Canon 10 of Title IV of the Canons of General Convention, wrote Bennison.
Bennison writes: "The Revd Dr David L Moyer did not deny the accuracy of the Findings of the Standing Committee, did not submit any statement to the Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania purporting to retract any of the actions underlying the Finding and Determination, and did not take any other action that would permit the Bishop to withdraw the notice and allow the Inhibition to expire as provided by Section 2 of the said Canon of Title IV. Therefore in accordance with the provisions of the said Section 2 of Canon 10, of Title IV and Section 3 of Canon 12 of Title IV of the Canons of General Convention of the Episcopal Church, in the presence of two priests, I do hereby adjudge and pronounce a Sentence of Deposition within the meaning of Section 1 (d) of Canon 12 of Title IV of the said Canons upon DAVID LLOYD MOYER, who is accordingly, deposed from the ordained ministry."
The letter of sentence was signed by the Rt Revd Charles E Bennison and witnessed by the Revd Glenn M Matis and the Rev William H Wood.
In a separate letter to Fr Moyer, Bennison writes, "It grieves me deeply that you have not responded to my letters of yesterday and August 7th, or to the statement in the Standing Committee's Report of February 26, 2002 and that a renunciation grounded in action can be retracted by appropriate action."
As provided in Section 2 of Canon 10, if a Priest "does not make retraction or denial as provided above, then it shall be the duty of the Bishop to pronounce sentence as provided therein. In accordance with my duty, and in the light of your defiance of the Discipline of the Church, I have pronounced a Sentence of Deposition upon you, a copy of which I enclose."
"I want to make certain that you are aware of, and give prayerful consideration to the provisions of Canon 13 of Title IV, regarding the Remission of Sentence, with the hope that if you truly wish to remain a Priest in the Episcopal Church you will follow the process and procedures enumerated there. If you do, I would be glad to welcome you back."
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