Former Bishop Savages TEC

The former Episcopal Suffragan Bishop of Albany, David Bena, has just weighed in on the pending Virginia church litigation in a guest editorial for the Richmond Times-Dispatch.  In the course of presenting the dissident church position, Bena did not neglect to to trash the leadership of The Episcopal Church and to even deny the legitimacy of the Church he once served.  The reason he and the breakaway churches left the Episcopal fold is that:

TEC formally rejected the authority of Scripture....  The painful irony is that TEC's decision to reject the authority of God's Word has been gravely injurious, and has itself caused the very division that TEC's leaders claimed they sought to avoid. Once someone rejects Scripture, then they reject Jesus Christ and Christianity as a whole. It's as simple as that. We could not follow a national body that rejected the very Word of God.

So, it's that simple.  The Episcopal Church no longer believes in the Bible, the Creeds, and all of God's Word.  Because The Episcopal Church has rejected Scripture, we no longer believe in Jesus Christ.  We have abandoned Christianity.  It's good that we have an authority to tell us that.  Who would have known?

Of course, Bena would graciously allow an exception to the Episcopal Diocese of Albany.  Bena mentored our current bishop.  The former suffragan is a frequent visitor to our diocesan Spiritual Life Center, where he leads groups.  He has even celebrated the Eucharist at the Spiritual Life Center, even though he is no longer a priest or bishop in The Episcopal Church.  Bena has expressed his confidence that the Diocese of Albany is safely in the orthodox fold, unlike the rest of the dioceses. 

I am sure that David Bena is completely sincere.  His personal decision to leave The Episcopal Church was the logical result of his determination that The Episcopal Church was not faithful to his vision of orthodoxy.  He has made that clear on a number of occasions.  But to go from that position to a blanket judgment on the entire leadership and loyal laity of The Episcopal Church is extreme.  If TEC is no longer a part of Christendom, what of other denominations?  Would Bena exclude Congregationalists from Christianity?  After all, they are members of UCC, which embraces a liberal social position and theology.  The answer seems clear.

And I am also sure that Bishop Love is sincere in his frequent statements that he and the Diocese of Albany have no plans to leave TEC.  But given David Bena's close association with our diocese, there is reasonable basis for speculation that his intemperate influence might reshape those plans.  That is why organizations such as Albany Via Media work to keep Albany Episcopal, and Episcopalians throughout the Church pray for our diocese to remain loyal.

Comments

[Robert Dodd]

Fr. Brown: The point at issue concerning David Bena is neither his pastoral skills nor his knowledge of scripture. It is, rather, his present occupation as a leader and spokesman for an organization (CANA) and an Anglican province (Nigeria) that actively oppose the Episcopal Church.

Shortly after Bp. Bena announced his retirement, we had a delightful conversation during my parish's coffee hour. Cudgels laid down, we were just two old guys pausing to chat at a bend in his road. It pains me as much to see Dave trash the Episcopal Church as it does to watch +Bill Love turn aside AVM's attempts to engage him and the Diocese of Albany. I hoped for more from both men.

[Jeff Claus]

As far as Bishop Bena is concerned, I am sure all of the positive attributes Fr. Brown describes are true. That does not change the fact that Bena renounced his orders in the Episcopal Church. I have yet to hear an explanation as to why someone who has renounced the Episcopal Church (rather vehemently, too!) continues to be a licensed officiant in the Diocese of Albany.

[Jeff Claus]

I would gently point out to Fr Brown that scripture and tradition also support slavery and polygamy while expressly condemning divorce. I do not know of a single Christian, no matter how conservative, advocating a return of the institution of slavery. We also (thankfully) have ignored St. Paul's exhortation that women in church be silent.

A better scholar than me can find more examples. Scripture may not have changed over the past few millenia, but our understanding of it certainly has.

[Fr. Christopher Brown]

I am not sure this is the place for what follows, but this is second time the matter has come up here: deanery council has been a matter of discussion at monthly clericus meetings for some time. There is a consensus that we do not need another layer of bureaucracy, but that some framework by which we might coordinate our common ministry would be helpful. On speaking to folks at the diocese, I was told that the Parish Leadership Conference and an additional deanery worship service would meet the requirement of the canon. In short, no one is pressing us to reconstitute the deanery council (dormant for well over a decade) except Joe.

On reflection, however, I have decided that Joe is right. A PLC does not really meet the specifics of the canon. So last month we decided to schedule a Deanery Convocation for May 22 -- more information will be forthcoming. The purpose is not provide a platform for thrashing out the finer points of ecclesiastical politics, but in order to further our common ministry in the North Country.

Apologies to all for whom this information has no relevance or interest.

[William F. Hammond]

The difference between "formally" and "tacitly" in this context is huge.

[Joseph M. Liotta]

Words, words, words. Father Christopher Brown your words cannot change the deeds of David Bena.

How about the words of the Constitution of the Diocese of Albany. You know, the ones that require Deaneries to have regular deanery meetings with delegates from each congregation representing both lay and clergy. Dean Brown, you've had enough time to rectify this situation but you just ignore it.

I guess you know which words of the Canons and Constitution to ignore.

For me the past 3 months away from this Diocese was a God-send. Worshipping with the people of St. Peter's Episcopal Cathedral in St. Petersburg, and with Bishop Dabny Smith, singing in the Cathedral Choir and with the St. Petersburg Festival Singers and Orchestra sponsored by the Cathedral. There was no rejection of the authority of scripture in any way, not even formally or tacitly. We had powerful music, powerful liturgy and powerful bonds within the congregation.

That to me is what the Episcopal Church and Christianity is all about. It is not about David Bena and his crude remarks and the divisions he helps foster. Forgive me for calling David Bena - Non Bena. It isn't a kind thing to say about anyone but he is, as another commentator said "a squatter". He is trying to pick off Episcopal Churches around the country. That's called stealing. That is what is in bad form.

[Fr. Christopher Brown]

"Formally rejected"? Okay, how about "tacitly rejected." Certainly, scripture requires thoughtful interpretation. But when you reach the point -- even for reasons of conviction and conscience -- that you contradict explicit scriptural teaching, then you have downgraded, or significantly revised, classic notions of the authority of scripture.

Regarding scripture, reason and tradition: David Bena is well read in the Christian tradition and one who exercises the gift of reason which skill. Morever, since scripture and tradition both favor the Bishop Bena's point of view, his critics are left relying primarily on reason, which is not so much a source of revelation as a tool for its interpretation. Hence, inevitably, the uncertain category of experience becomes the main focus of reflection.

David Bena is a dedicated pastor, and one of the most hard-working and disciplined clergymen you will meet. He listens to people of all persuasions and he served us well. It is legitimate to disagree with him, but bad form to impugn his motives and integrity.

I realize that progressives like to think of themselves as “Christians with a difference,” but I also think it is bad form to express disdainful for other bodies of Christians such as Southern Baptists.

[Jeff Claus]

Lord knows I have my theological disagreements with Bishop Love, but he's recently proved himself to me a true Christian and a compassionate, decent human being. I suspect Bp Love has put up with Mr Bena's shenanigans out of that same sense of Christian love and compassion.

Dave Bena is a millstone around Albany's neck. He has renounced his orders in the Episcopal Church, and should no longer be allowed to officiate in this diocese. If ECUSA is so flawed and broken, Mr Bena, why are you hanging out at one of its properties (the SLC)? Are you trying to claim squatter's rights for CANA?

Mr Bena's continued presence in the diocese in any sort of official capacity makes life unnecessarily difficult for the diocese and for the bishop.

[Harriet Warnock-Graham]

Bene needs to move on. I resent his presence in this diocese. Isn't he connected with another diocese??? Let him go there.

[Lelanda Lee]

which part of the eighth commandment have these men of the purple cloth now decided no longer applies to them?

[Paula M. Jackson]

formally rejected" -- this strikes me as beyond hyperbole and actually libel. Or just plain lying. You may disagree with the interpretation of scripture behind some decisions you don't like, but there is no formal rejection of the authority of Scripture on any record of TEC. Why is he allowed to make such statements, even by conservatives who might value truth?

[Christopher Hofer]

The authority of Scripture without looking through the lens of tradition and reason simply becomes a heavy paper weight. I pray for Albany.

[Harriet W. Graham]

It seems to me that individual statements claiming ultimate truth are peculiar and irregular in the Anglican Communion. This man belongs in the Southern Baptist denomination, not the Anglican Communion. Anglicans need to remain Anglican and not covet the control and authoritarianism of other denominations.

[Robert Dodd]

It's hard to swallow having CANA's hired mouthpiece in residence at Christ the King and clerically active in the Episcopal Diocese of Albany. It's harder still to imagine +Love getting good advice from him. (Picture Benedict Arnold as George Washington's Secretary of State!)

David Bena showed integrity, however belated, when he left the Episcopal Church for Nigeria. His rants against TEC show no integrity whatever.

As to +Love's "sincere" intention to stay in both TEC and the Communion, his sincerity will be tested if the Global South continues to move toward a separate Communion. Will he cling to Canterbury or follow the likes of Bena to Alexandria or Abuja?

[William F. Hammond]

More on comment about the Northern Virginia court case in the Richmond Times-Dispatch:

I've been pointed to another article published the same day, Monday, April 12, by Rev. G. Wilson Gunn, Jr., general presbyter of the National Capitol Presbytery, PCUSA, that argues for the TEC position on property.

Both pieces are "Op Ed" pieces by "guest columnists" but not "guest editorials".

[William F. Hammond]

"formally rejected the authority of Scripture"

Really!?!

This is nonsense.

It would take an act of two successive meetings of the triennial General Convention to do that by amending the Constitution to modify the oath of conformity that is sworn by every deacon, priest, and bishop. That oath is this:

I do believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, and to contain all things necessary to salvation; and I do solemnly engage to conform to the Doctrine, Discipline, and Worship of the Episcopal Church.