The unusual trial could establish a precedent for clergy in hierarchical religious institutions to turn to civil courts to challenge their superiors over personnel matters.
In his opening statement at the Montgomery County Courthouse, lawyer John Lewis portrayed his client, the Rev. David Moyer, as the target of a cynical plot by Bennison to “fraudulently” remove him from the priesthood.
Head of the five-county Diocese of Pennsylvania for 10 years, Bennison deposed Moyer in 2002 as a priest and rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Rosemont. Moyer, a conservative, had publicly clashed with the more liberal Bennison over the ordination of women and the acceptance of homosexuality and had repeatedly accused him of dishonesty.
Moyer, 57, is suing for unspecified damages on the ground that his removal not only was improper under Episcopal church law but also caused him suffering, isolation and loss of income.
I have one question. Is TEC actually hierarchical? The governance certainly isn’t like that of Rome. No matter what she might think, KJS does not have the authority to intervene in individual diocese. The authority as I see it comes from general counsel in a democratic style vote, not the presiding Bishop.
“Embattled” bishop?
Canons to the left of him
Canons to the right of him…..
Christians suing other Christians in secular court. This makes the heart sad.
Archer, it is debatable as to whether the situation is one of Christians suing other Christians in court. Of course, they are both professing Christians, and it is impossible to judge the ultimate fate of any particular person, nor to know for sure the nature and quality of their relationship to God. Even so, one has reason to doubt that one could call Bennison a Christian and be telling the truth.
Hakkatan, whether or not one believes Bennison is a Christian is not the point of Archer’s sadness. 1 Cor 6:1-8 is directed toward the Christian who is doing the suing. Moyer has a lot to think through. He needs to take 1 Cor 6:1-8 as seriously as he does the passages concerning sexuality.
As someone else once put it, the word “right” in the Bible is an adjective, not a noun. Unless we’re talking about the “right” to become children of God, in which case we’re not supposed to be surprised when the world hates us, because it hated Jesus first. “Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?” Hard sayings, indeed.
“KJS does not have the authority to intervene in individual diocese.” Tell that to the Dio. of San Joaquin. Tell that to the Standing Committee of Pittsburgh. The PB, with the aid of her handlers, doesn’t worry about authority. She does what she wants.
Let us not forget that Paul himself was anxious to go to Rome and plead his case before the Emperor.