[ELD] Bennison convicted of conduct unbecoming a clergy member / Maritime Chaplains, Bishop Shaw's visit to Zimbabwe covered in 'Episcopal Life Focus' multicast

[Matthew Davies]

Episcopal Life Daily
June 26, 2008

Episcopal Life Online is available at
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife.

Today's Episcopal Life Daily includes:

* TOP STORY - Bennison convicted of conduct unbecoming a clergy member
* TOP STORY - Maritime Chaplains, Bishop Shaw's visit to Zimbabwe
covered in 'Episcopal Life Focus' multicast
* WORLD REPORT - ENGLAND: Nazir-Ali to boycott Lambeth Conference as
'matter of conscience'
* WORLD REPORT - EUROPE: In Lisbon, Portuguese celebrate Anglican
foundations
* FEATURE - Ignited by MDGs: A passion for social justice links students
with new church ministry
* DAYBOOK - June 27, 2008: Today in Scripture, Prayer, History
* CATALYST - The Switching Hour: Kids of Divorce Say Good-Bye Again

_____________________


TOP STORIES

Bennison convicted of conduct unbecoming a clergy member

Court for the Trial of a Bishop issues two-count judgment

By Mary Frances Schjonberg

[Episcopal News Service] An ecclesiastical court has found that
Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania Bishop Charles E. Bennison engaged
(http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/Judgment_of_the_Court_re_Offen
ses_in_Bennison_Presentment(v1).pdf) in conduct unbecoming of a member
of the clergy.

Bennison, 64, faced two counts of the charge. The first count of the
presentment
(http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/Bennison_Presentment.pdf) that
formed the basis of a recent four-day trial dealt said that 35 years ago
when Bennison, as rector of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Upland,
California, failed to respond properly after learning that his brother,
John Bennison, a 24-year-old newly-ordained deacon whom he had hired as
youth minister, was "engaged in a sexually abusive and sexually
exploitive relationship" with a 14-year-old parishioner. The abuse
lasted for more than three years.

The presentment also said Charles Bennison failed to discharge his
pastoral obligations to the girl, the members of her family, and the
members of the parish youth group after he learned of his brother's
behavior.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_98300_ENG_HTM.htm

- - - - -

Maritime Chaplains, Bishop Shaw's visit to Zimbabwe covered in
'Episcopal Life Focus' multicast

[Episcopal News Service] The June edition of "Episcopal Life Focus" -- a
half-hour video "multicast" featuring church mission, ministries and
news -- is posted for online viewing at
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81231_89777_ENG_HTM.htm. This month's
edition features an extended look at a day in the life of a Seaman's
Church Institute maritime chaplain at one of the largest ports in the
United States.

Anchored by Daphne Mack and produced by Michael Collins, the June Focus
edition also includes a conversation with the Rt. Rev. Stacy Sauls,
Bishop of the Diocese of Lexington, on what his expectations are for
next month's Lambeth Conference.

An additional segment includes an in-depth interview with the Rt. Rev.
Thomas Shaw, SSJE, Bishop of Massachusetts, who has recently returned
from Zimbabwe where he witnessed the ongoing religious and political
violence.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_98299_ENG_HTM.htm

More Top Stories: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife

_____________________


WORLD REPORT

ENGLAND: Nazir-Ali to boycott Lambeth Conference as 'matter of
conscience'
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_98261_ENG_HTM.htm

EUROPE: In Lisbon, Portuguese celebrate Anglican foundations
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_98259_ENG_HTM.htm

More World news: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_ENG_HTM.htm

_____________________


FEATURES

Ignited by MDGs
A passion for social justice links students with new church ministry

By DonnaLee Pettit

[Episcopal Life] During the Eucharist of the 2006 convention of the
Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota, Bishop Michael Smith articulated
three major mission initiatives: a continuing mission to Native
Americans, a continuing mission to the Sudanese immigrants in the
Fargo-Moorhead area, and a new mission to college campuses. 

The Rev. Canon Kevin Goodrich, O.P., canon missioner for the diocese's
Southeast Region, attended the convention and heard Smith's call. But
when Goodrich first came to Grace Episcopal Church (the region's central
office and parish) in Jamestown, he thought he didn't have the time or
ability to do anything with local Jamestown College. One of North
Dakota's few private colleges, it is a small liberal arts school with a
historical connection to the Presbyterian Church.

The school has an enrollment of more than 1,000 students. While it
offers a weekly chapel service, only a small percentage of college
students attend. Grace Episcopal Church is a family-sized parish located
about half a mile from the campus that then had an average attendance of
40.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81799_98269_ENG_HTM.htm

More Features: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/78936_ENG_HTM.htm

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DAYBOOK

On June 27, 2008...

* Today in Scripture: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/82457_ENG_HTM.htm
* Today in Prayer: Anglican Cycle of Prayer:
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acp/index.cfm
* Today in History: On June 27, 1299, Pope Boniface VIII, in his
encyclical Scimus, fili, claimed Scotland owed allegiance to the Roman
Catholic Church.

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CATALYST

"The Switching Hour: Kids of Divorce Say Good-Bye Again" from Abingdon
Press, by Evon O. Flesberg, 119 pages, hardcover, c. 2008, $14

[Abingdon Press] Written from the child's point of view, this book will
help parents simplify family life as children transition between
parents. Filled with facts and practical advice, The Switching Hour
stresses that, even with the best intentions and parenting skills,
children and parents must come to terms with living divided lives.

To order: Episcopal Books and Resources, online at
http://www.episcopalbookstore.org, or call 800-903-5544 -- or visit your
local Episcopal bookseller, http://www.episcopalbooksellers.org

More Catalyst: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/83842_ENG_HTM.htm