Bishop Bently to Retire
Diocesan Press Service. October 10, 1963 [XIV-1]
The Rt. Rev. John B. Bentley, D. D., has submitted his resignation as first vice-president of the National Council and director of its Overseas Department, effective October 31, 1964. Presiding Bishop Lichtenberger, made the announcement October 11 at a two-day National Council meeting in Christ Church, Cincinnati.
Succeeding Bishop Bentley as director of the Overseas Department will be the Rt. Rev. Stephen F. Bayne, Jr. D. D., executive officer of the Anglican Communion. The appointment of Bishop Bayne, who is also Bishop-in-Charge of the Convocation of American Churches in Europe, was made by the Presiding Bishop subject to confirmation by the National Council, and will become effective November 1, 1964.
Bishop Bentley will reach 68, the normal retirement age for National Council officers, on February 9, 1964. However, at the Presiding Bishop's request, he will remain in his present post through General Convention, October 11-23, 1964.
For 15 years Bishop Bentley has directed the overseas operation of the Episcopal Church, which encompasses 25 countries and disburses an annual budget of more than $4,000,000. Technically charged with the responsibility for developing and executing overseas missionary work, the Department's ultimate aim is to establish indigenous and regional churches throughout the world.
Bishop Bentley, after 21 years in Alaska-- first as a missionary, then as Bishop-- became director of the Overseas Department and first vice-president of the National Council in 1948.
During his tenure with the Council, he has been an ardent supporter of and spokesman for the overseas work of the Church within the House of Bishops, as well as within the framework of the National and World Councils of Churches and other ecumenical bodies.
Under his leadership, new Episcopal missionary districts have been established in Central and Southwestern Brazil, Central America, and Taiwan. Also of immense significance is the establishment of the concordat with the Philippine Independent Church, which brings together more than 2,000, 000 Christians in that Republic. Another milestone was the establishment of the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Caribbean in Puerto Rico.
But perhaps Bishop Bentley's leadership most notably has been exerted toward increasing the Episcopal Church's partnership with other Anglican Churches. Cooperation with the Nippon Seikokai (the Anglican Church in Japan) has long been a major American interest. In recent years, American participation in the five African Anglican churches has greatly increased, as has also been the case in India where the Episcopal Church has undertaken a $200, 000 project in the Diocese of Calcutta.
Born in Hampton, Va., Bishop Bentley attended the College of William and Mary and the Virginia Theological Seminary. He was ordained a deacon in 1922. Following four years as a missionary in Alaska, one year teaching at the Charlotte Hall School in Maryland, and four years as an assistant at Bruton Parish, Williamsburg, Virginia, he was ordained to the priesthood. He then returned to Alaska to become Archdeacon of the Yukon. He was elected Suffragan Bishop of the District in 1931 and became the Missionary Bishop in 1943.