wfn.org | Episcopalians: Bishop of Pennsylvania suspends rector of traditionalist parish

[dmack@episcopalchurch.org]

March 13, 2002

2002-062

Episcopalians: Bishop of Pennsylvania suspends rector of 
traditionalist parish

by James Solheim

(ENS) A decade-long battle between a conservative priest and his 
bishop reached a head when Bishop Charles Bennison of 
Pennsylvania, acting on the advice of the diocesan Standing 
Committee, formally inhibited the Rev. David Moyer for six 
months, effective March 4.

Rector of Church of the Good Shepherd in the Philadelphia 
suburb of Rosemont , Moyer is president of Forward in Faith 
North America, an organization that opposes the ordination of 
women. He recently consented to allow his name to be placed in 
nomination as one of the candidates for election as a bishop of 
Forward in Faith.

On February 26 the Standing Committee determined that Moyer had, 
under provisions in Title IV Canon 10 abandoned the communion 
of the church and should be suspended for six months and face 
the possibility of being deposed as a priest of the Episcopal 
Church unless he submits in writing a good faith retraction of 
his acts upon which the Standing Committee has based its 
decision.

Moyer has prevented bishops of the diocese from scheduling 
visitations, as required by the churchs canon laws, for the 
last 10 years and has invited other bishops to preside at the 
Eucharist, preach and confirm in the parish. Bennison sent Moyer 
a Pastoral Direction and Solemn Warning on February 2, again 
requesting that the parish schedule a visitation.

Moyer charges that the bishop had promised, before his 
election, that if elected he would not seek to compel the 
clergy or the vestry to accept his visitation. In reliance upon 
that undertaking, the Church of the Good Shepherd voted for him, 
and he was elected. Moyer described the action against him as 
unchristian and ecclesiastical genocide.

Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold wrote to Bennison and the 
Standing Committee, admitting that he was troubled by the 
inhibition and urging further efforts at mediation. He noted 
that the canonical provision that the bishop celebrate the 
Eucharist when making formal visitations to parishes 
unfortunately seemed to be at the heart of this impasse when 
it should instead be the celebration of reconciliation in 
Christ.

In response, the Standing Committee expressed support for 
Griswolds leadership in nurturing the unity of our Episcopal 
Church and the Anglican Communion, adding that we also are 
committed to unity. The March 8 letter said that the committee 
had with great patience sought to build bridges with Moyer but 
for 10 years he has resisted the efforts of three bishops in 
this diocese for reconciliation. After consultation with 
diocesan leaders and a reconciliation team at a January 31 
meeting a unanimous vote of those attending endorsed the action 
that the Standing Committee subsequently took on February 26.

Bennison has opposed alternate episcopal oversight on the 
model of flying bishops in the Church of England. The 
oppression of women cannot be minimized. What you end up with 
ultimately is the fact that people can choose their bishop based 
on what they think, he said. The Church of England, he added, 
has really abandoned our own ecclesiology. He also called the 
decision of Moyer to participate in the episcopal election 
process a big mistake. This really is too much for people.

------

Background documents

Standing 
Committee's Report on the Canonical Discipline of the Rev. Dr. 
David Moyer (02/26/02) 

Standing 
Committee's Findings and Determination (03/01/02)

Bishop's Letter to 
the Clergy (03/01/02) 

Fact Sheet: 
Situation Summary 

 Fact Sheet: 
Episcopal Visitations 

Response of Moyers to 
Bennison 

--James Solheim is director of Episcopal News Service.