Bishops of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania

Two diocesan bishops in Pennsylvania have been deposed in the past month. Bishop Charles Bennison last week received an ecclesiastical judgment against him on conduct charges, and Bishop Bob Duncan was deposed by action of the House of Bishops in September. The deposition of Bishop Duncan happened just weeks before the diocese was to vote on a Duncan-led effort to 'take the diocese out of the Episcopal Church.'

At any rate, it is a difficult time for Episcopalians in Pennsylvania's two 'big-city' dioceses. It is a curious now-historical fact that a leading voice of Anglican extreme conservativism - Bob Duncan - and a leading voice of Anglican extreme liberalism - Charles Bennison - should both have been deposed from sees in the same state, and within weeks of each other.

What matters of course is that there are thousands of faithful people in both dioceses - Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania - who need faithful Christian leadership and oversight. For those of us who deeply love this Episcopal Church - and who seek to keep the faith of Christ born, crucified, risen and coming again within this Episcopal Church - let us keep our brothers and sisters in Christ in prayer. I especially will keep those seeking to remain Episcopalian in the Pittsburgh area in my prayers. This is a time to bear with them in their struggles, and to pray that the Spirit provides for them.

A link for Pittsburgh Episcopalians here, a good blog from a faithful Iron City Episcopalian is here. And for Pennsylvania here.