Bishop of Pennsylvania Suspends Rector of Traditionalist Parish
Episcopal News Service. March 13, 2002 [2002-062]
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 church's 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 Griswold's "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 Moyer to Bennison