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PENNSYLVANIA: Standing Committee Passes Last Minute Resolution to Hamstring Bennison
By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
PHILADELPHIA, PA (3/24/2006)--The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania met with Bishop Charles E. Bennison on Thursday night in an 11th hour attempt to force the bishop to resign or retire on the eve of a special diocesan convention.
At a meeting on March 23 described as "spirited", the Standing Committee passed a resolution saying that in light of "known and unknown expenses," they declined to consent to any declaration of the use of proceeds from real estate or other current undesignated assets to meet the needs for the 2006 Program Budget.
They took the actions, they said, because these assets will be needed to reimburse certain funds improperly spent from the St. Matthew's Fund, Jerusalem Fund, St. Andrew's Fund, Diocesan Reserve Fund and Zion Fund.
They said that funds must be reserved for the actual 2005 deficit; unknown legal expenses sustained in 2006; the real costs of the purchase of 3717-19 Chestnut Street for 2005 and 2006. (This was another Bennison escapade where he persuaded the Standing Committee to buy the apartment next door to the cathedral and call it cathedral plaza. The purpose was to develop and flip the property.) How much money was spent no one knows. The real costs for Wapiti, the new Diocesan Camp grounds for 2005 and 2006; for contributions to the cost of a special condition audit for the purpose of clarifying the diocese' financial position and for emergencies.
Concerned Pennsylvania Episcopalians, a group of faithful parishioners of diverse races, theological views and economic backgrounds are supporting the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania in its request that the current Bishop resign or retire due to financial mismanagement and a lack of trust pervading the Diocese of which he has been the leader since 1998.
They strongly believe that Diocesan financial accounting and reporting is so thoroughly flawed that no one knows if, in fact, there are any unrestricted net assets available. Further, the group believes that funds already expended were spent contrary to canonically-defined restrictions and must be restored.
CPE will present their case during this Saturday's special meeting of the Diocese of Pennsylvania. They have requested full disclosure of the dioceses 2004 and 2005 financial information, including real estate and fundraising programs. CPE believes that Bishop Bennison has mismanaged the day-to-day operations of the Diocese, and has made decisions that do not meet the clearly expressed needs of the Diocesan Community. CPE will hold a press conference following the convention.
The diocesan convention meets at the Chapel of Episcopal Academy on Merion Campus in Merion, Pennsylvania on the city's mainline.
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