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March 13, 2006
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
In the spirit of openness and collegiality, we, the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania wish to share with you the report, in its entirety, named "Recommendations to The Rt. Rev'd Charles E. Bennison, Jr. and the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Pennsylvania in Response to a Request for a Process of Mediation."
The report and attachments will be available on www.diopastandingcommittee.org.
The report, which we recently received, was prepared by The Rt. Rev'd Clayton Matthews, the Office of Pastoral Development of the National Church and his colleague Woodriff (Woodi) Sprinkel, LCSW, member of the Title IV Task Force of the General Convention, after their meeting with the Bishop, Standing Committee, Council of Deans and Concerned Pennsylvania Episcopalians on February 21, 2006.
In light of the comments and recommendations by Bishop Matthews, we do not feel it would be beneficial to embark on a strenuous and lengthy reconciliation process as was reported incorrectly in the Pennsylvania Episcopalian.
We will follow the advice given to us by Bishop Matthews in the report. We understand fully that these are difficult times for everyone in the Diocese.
Let us prayerfully reflect on the Scriptural Readings for this past Second Sunday in Lent which address the issues of fear, testing oneself and abandonment, and hope of wholeness. St. Paul said to the Church in Rome: "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
The Peace of the Lord be with you.
The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Pennsylvania
The Rev. Sam Adu-Andoh
Mr. Christopher Hart
The Rev. Mary Laney, Vice President
The Rev. Glenn Matis
Ms. Arlene McGurk, Secretary
The Rev. Isaac Miller
Mr. William Powell
Mr. Joseph Suprenuk
The Rev. William Wood, President
Ms. Diane-Louise Wormley
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