Standing Committee posted Dec 13, 2010

Standing Committee Discusses Future with Presiding Bishop

December 9, 2010

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Yesterday, eight of us from the Standing Committee drove to New York to meet with our Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, and with her chancellor, David Booth Beers, and the Officer for Pastoral Development, the Right Rev. F. Clayton Matthews.

Standing Committee posted Oct 01, 2010

Letter from the Standing Committee

September 29, 2010

Dear Bishop Bennison: It has been six weeks since your return to active ministry in the diocese of Pennsylvania. You have met with the Standing Committee’s Executive Committee, attended one Standing Committee meeting, met with Diocesan Council’s Executive Committee, chaired one Diocesan Council meeting, chaired one Council of Deans meeting, met with a small group representing the Diocesan Mission Planning Commission (DMPC), and met with many others, individuals and small groups as well as the staff at Church House. You have attended one House of Bishops meeting, and you have also addressed some issues concerning the situation in the Diocese of Pennsylvania through the media.

Standing Committee posted Sep 16, 2010

Letter to Bonnie Anderson from the Standing Committee

September 16, 2010

Dear Bonnie, The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Pennsylvania is deeply grateful for your support for the people of the Diocese of Pennsylvania and for your willingness to be open and honest with your communications to Bishop Bennison, The Presiding Bishop, and the people of The Episcopal Church on the matters confronting us in Pennsylvania.

Standing Committee posted Sep 09, 2010

Letter from the Standing Committee to the House of Bishops

Gentlepersons: In the wake of the decision of the Court of Review and the consequent difficult position for many in the Diocese occasioned by the return of Bishop Bennison, the Standing Committee is requesting by the attached letter that the House of Bishops consider how it might act and advise in a pastoral manner the Diocese of Pennsylvania in thinking about how to chart a way forward. It is our hope that the House of Bishops will place this matter on its agenda for its meeting beginning September 14 in Phoenix. It is our further intention to share this letter with Executive Council.

Standing Committee posted Aug 16, 2010

An Open Letter to the People of the Diocese of Pennsylvania From the Standing Committee of the Diocese

August 16, 2010

Let us pray for the Church:

Gracious God, we pray for your holy Catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it, where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Savior. Amen. – The Book of Common Prayer, page 816

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, We write to share our thoughts in response to Bishop Bennison’s publicly stated intention to return and resume his responsibilities as Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania. We are grateful for the counsel that many of you have offered. We listened with care to the words spoken by many of you at our Cathedral this past Sunday and are grateful for your prayers. We write to you with humility and conviction.