Episcopals lose Diocese to a more pure Christianity
Three months after the Diocese of San Joaquin took a momentous vote to leave the U.S. Episcopal Church, Bishop John-David Schofield says there's a lot of work to do and there's no looking back.
John-David Schofield, 69, bishop of the Fresno-based diocese for 20 years, says he never has felt he was leading people down the wrong road.
On Dec. 8, the local diocese became the first American diocese to secede from the U.S. Episcopal Church since the Civil War, largely over differences with the national body's approval of same-sex blessings, ordination of a gay bishop, the role of women in the church and how to interpret the Bible over such issues.
The diocese also aligned with the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone of South America, based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which has similar views as the diocese.
In response, the Episcopal Church banned Schofield on Jan. 11 from practicing his religious duties for 60 days, which ends Tuesday.
The Diocese of San Joaquin said the national church didn't have the authority to discipline Schofield.
The U.S. House of Bishops, an Episcopal gathering that began meeting Friday at a retreat in Camp Allen, Texas, will make a decision Wednesday on Schofield, including possibly deposing him.
Schofield says the bishops have "no jurisdiction over me." Since he is a bishop in the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone, "whatever they decide, it doesn't have an effect on us," he says.
"The difference [now] is to deal with people of genuine integrity and who are loving, passionate Christians," Schofield says.
Schofield says he is focusing on guiding the diocese's more than 8,000 members in 14 counties in an Anglican direction.
Not everyone in the diocese, however, is following Schofield out of the Episcopal Church.
Six parishes out of 48 in the diocese have chosen to remain under Episcopal Church jurisdiction -- St. John's in Lodi, Church of the Saviour in Hanford, Holy Family in Fresno, Christ the King in Riverdale, St. Anne's in Stockton and St. John's in Tulare. Their combined membership is 598 people.
Schofield says parishes in other dioceses -- in San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles and Nevada -- are inquiring how they can be part of the Diocese of San Joaquin.
"We might lose five or six [churches] in our diocese," Schofield says. "But already, there are that many wanting to come in. Who wants to have those among us who are angry?"
full article
John-David Schofield, 69, bishop of the Fresno-based diocese for 20 years, says he never has felt he was leading people down the wrong road.
On Dec. 8, the local diocese became the first American diocese to secede from the U.S. Episcopal Church since the Civil War, largely over differences with the national body's approval of same-sex blessings, ordination of a gay bishop, the role of women in the church and how to interpret the Bible over such issues.
The diocese also aligned with the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone of South America, based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which has similar views as the diocese.
In response, the Episcopal Church banned Schofield on Jan. 11 from practicing his religious duties for 60 days, which ends Tuesday.
The Diocese of San Joaquin said the national church didn't have the authority to discipline Schofield.
The U.S. House of Bishops, an Episcopal gathering that began meeting Friday at a retreat in Camp Allen, Texas, will make a decision Wednesday on Schofield, including possibly deposing him.
Schofield says the bishops have "no jurisdiction over me." Since he is a bishop in the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone, "whatever they decide, it doesn't have an effect on us," he says.
"The difference [now] is to deal with people of genuine integrity and who are loving, passionate Christians," Schofield says.
Schofield says he is focusing on guiding the diocese's more than 8,000 members in 14 counties in an Anglican direction.
Not everyone in the diocese, however, is following Schofield out of the Episcopal Church.
Six parishes out of 48 in the diocese have chosen to remain under Episcopal Church jurisdiction -- St. John's in Lodi, Church of the Saviour in Hanford, Holy Family in Fresno, Christ the King in Riverdale, St. Anne's in Stockton and St. John's in Tulare. Their combined membership is 598 people.
Schofield says parishes in other dioceses -- in San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles and Nevada -- are inquiring how they can be part of the Diocese of San Joaquin.
"We might lose five or six [churches] in our diocese," Schofield says. "But already, there are that many wanting to come in. Who wants to have those among us who are angry?"
full article
Comments