wfn.org | Episcopal Life Daily October 3, 2008

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

> Episcopal Life Daily October 3, 2008

Episcopal Life Online is available at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife.

> Today's Episcopal Life Daily includes:

* TOP STORY - Court for the Trial of a Bishop calls for Bennison's
deposition
* TOP STORY - Episcopalians gather to apologize for slavery
* DIOCESAN DIGEST - PITTSBURGH: Convention could create four parishes
in midst of realignment vote
* WORLD REPORT - INDIA: Nation celebrates Gandhi's life as attacks on
Christians continue
* PEOPLE - Five to receive honorary doctorates at Virginia Theological
Seminary
* OPINION - Letters: Episcopal Life Monthly October 2008
* ARTS - Note-worthy occasion: October festival celebrates the 'king
of instruments'
* DAYBOOK - October 6, 2008: Today in Scripture, Prayer, History
* CATALYST - The Little Flowers of Saint Francis

> _____________________

> TOP STORIES

Court for the Trial of a Bishop calls for Bennison's deposition

Inhibited Pennsylvania bishop engaged in conduct unbecoming a member
of the clergy

> By Mary Frances Schjonberg

[Episcopal News Service] Eleven months after being barred from
performing episcopal acts, an ecclesiastical court has determined that
Diocese of Pennsylvania Bishop Charles E. Bennison should be deposed
from the ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church.

The Court for the Trial of a Bishop, which spent four days in June
hearing the case against Bennison, ruled September 30 that deposition
was appropriate "in recognition of the nature of the offense and
because [Bennison] has failed to demonstrate that he comprehends and
takes responsibility for the harm that he has caused."

Bennison was determined by the court in June of having engaged in
conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_101315_ENG_HTM.htm

> - - - - -

> Episcopalians gather to apologize for slavery

> By Daphne Mack

[Episcopal News Service] Hundreds of Episcopalians journeyed to St.
Thomas African Episcopal Church in Philadelphia on October 3 to
participate in the first of a two-day solemn observance that will
culminate with the Episcopal Church publicly apologizing for its
involvement in the institution of transatlantic slavery.

"Our coming together shows that this is not an Episcopal problem, nor
a Christian problem, but a human problem," explained the Rev. Jayne
Oasin, program officer for Anti-Racism and Gender Equality for the
Episcopal Church. "We are saying that we have marginalized and
oppressed others, and have not regarded every one as God's equal
creation but we're not going to be that way anymore."

"I came because it's been too long for a public apology to be made,"
said Bob Brundige, of St. Elizabeth Church in Ridgewood, New Jersey.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_101316_ENG_HTM.htm

More Top Stories: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife

> _____________________

> DIOCESAN DIGEST

PITTSBURGH: Convention could create four parishes in midst of realignment
vote
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_101314_ENG_HTM.htm

More Diocesan news: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_ENG_HTM.htm

> _____________________

> WORLD REPORT

INDIA: Nation celebrates Gandhi's life as attacks on Christians continue
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_101299_ENG_HTM.htm

More World news: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_ENG_HTM.htm

> _____________________

> PEOPLE

Five to receive honorary doctorates at Virginia Theological Seminary

[VTS] Honorary doctorates will be conferred upon five distinguished
recipients at Virginia Theological Seminary's annual Academic
Convocation on October 7.

The Doctor in Divinity, honoris causa, degree will be awarded to the
Rt. Rev. Larry R. Benfield (VTS '90), bishop of the Diocese of
Arkansas; the Rt. Rev. Shannon S. Johnston, bishop coadjutor of the
Diocese of Virginia; the Rt. Rev. Sean W. Rowe (VTS '00), bishop of
the Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania; and Dr. Jennifer Louise
Plane Te Paa, principal of Te Rau Kahikatea, St. John's Theological
College in Auckland, New Zealand. A Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris
causa, will be conferred upon Russell V. Palmore, Jr., chancellor of
the Diocese of Virginia.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81831_101301_ENG_HTM.htm

More People: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81831_ENG_HTM.htm

> _____________________

> OPINION

> Letters: Episcopal Life Monthly October 2008

[Episcopal Life] Letters that appeared in the October 2008 edition of
Episcopal Life Monthly are available at
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/80050_101300_ENG_HTM.htm

Episcopal Life welcomes letters, especially those with pictures, and
will give preference to those in response to stories. Letters should
be no longer than 250 words and must include the writer's name,
address and phone number for verification. Send to Letters, Episcopal
Life, 815 Second Ave., New York, NY 10017; or email to
letters@episcopal-life.org. All letters will be edited for brevity and
clarity.

More Opinion: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/80050_ENG_HTM.htm

> _____________________

> ARTS

> Note-worthy occasion

October festival celebrates the 'king of instruments'

> By Solange De Santis

[Episcopal Life] The "king of instruments" is holding court.

The American Guild of Organists has coordinated on October19 what it
calls "the world's largest organ concert" -- musical events in more
than 200 locations in the U.S. and overseas to celebrate the
multi-voiced instrument most people only hear in church.

It's part of the guild's "International Year of the Organ," which
stretches from the organization's national convention last June to its
regional conventions next summer. More than 150 chapters have signed
up to participate in the "organ spectacular," as well as scheduling
concerts, lectures and other events on other dates.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81827_101306_ENG_HTM.htm

More Arts: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81827_ENG_HTM.htm

> _____________________

> DAYBOOK

On October 6, 2008, the Church calendar remembers William Tyndale,
priest (c. 1494-1536).

* Today in Scripture: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/82457_ENG_HTM.htm

* Today in Prayer: Anglican Cycle of Prayer:

http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acp/index.cfm

* Today in History: On October 6, 1510, Rowland Taylor was born in
Northumberland, England. Taylor, an Anglican priest, was the third
victim of Queen Mary I as she attempted to bring about Roman Catholic
reforms in England. On October 6, 1874, John E. Bode, priest and
hymnist, died.

> _____________________

> CATALYST

"The Little Flowers of Saint Francis" from Random House, Inc.,
translated into modern English by Raphael Brown, 357 pages, paperback,
c. 1958, $10.95

[Random House, Inc.] Here is a book that generation after generation
has taken to its heart, for it lives and breathes the spirit of St.
Francis as no other book has ever done. It is irresistible. The warmth
of Franciscan love and joy radiates from every page. The best-loved
stories of the Poverello and his followers are all here: Francis's
sermon to the birds...the Stigmata...the wolf of Gubbio...the
preaching of St. Anthony...the soaring "Canticle of Brother Sun"...
the lives and sayings of Brother Juniper and Brother Giles.

This edition -- the only complete version -- has been translated into
modern English by Raphael Brown, the well-known Franciscan scholar
whose own deep feeling for St. Francis has helped him capture the
spirit and flavor that give these writings their indescribable charm.
Truly universal is the appeal of this book, extending to people of all
faiths and of every intellectual level. It is wise, very funny, and
inspiring. Above all, it is a love story...the store of how Little
Poor Man taught the world about the love of Christ, and how this love
can be lived and shared and enjoyed by everyone.

To order: Episcopal Books and Resources, online at
http://www.episcopalbookstore.org, or call 800-903-5544 -- or visit
your local Episcopal bookseller, http://www.episcopalbooksellers.org

More Catalyst: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/83842_ENG_HTM.htm