San Joaquin Moves On

A poignant anecdote from the reorganized Diocese of San Joaquin (TEC), the real Episcopal Church:

Cindy Smith, one member of a newly-appointed steering committee for the diocese, reported seeing a copy of Episcopal Life for the first time on a visit to the Diocese of Virginia. "I thought it was a diocesan publication, and I asked about it. They told me it was the national newspaper and I remember saying, 'what national newspaper?' I had never seen it or heard of it.”  Her surprise was the result of a complete lack of national church news under the administration of the former bishop, John-David Schofield.  Now the diocese can read up on “all the things nobody ever told us about, except that it's 'bad' or 'apostate’.”  No more graphic illustration of the need for media coverage of church affairs can be imagined.  Here is an example of a diocese that formerly denied its members knowledge of what was happening outside its boundaries, or a balanced view of events within the diocese.  Beware, those in the Diocese of Albany who advocate banning the media from diocesan events.

Other signs of health in the reconstituted Diocese of San Joaquin are obvious.  Presiding Bishop Catherine Jefferts Schori has appointed the Rev. Canon Bob Moore and the Rev. Canon Brian Cox to be an interim pastoral presence to continuing Episcopalians.  A 26-member steering committee has been appointed to guide the development of the diocese.  A Special Diocesan Convention will meet on March 29 to elect a provisional bishop, regular standing committee, deputies to Convention, and other diocesan representatives.  Most encouraging, 17 congregations in the diocese have announced their intention to remain within TEC, with “the possibility of more coming on board”, according to Episcopal Life.

Even though he is about to be deposed as bishop because of his abandonment of TEC, Schofield remains in denial that events have passed him by.  Schofield announced in a letter on February 15 to Moore and Cox that "you are meddling in the affairs of San Joaquin with neither the courtesy of requesting my permission as bishop or even troubling to inform me of your plans.  Under no circumstances are you welcome to hold meetings in this diocese or to ask permission of clergy or other leaders to do so."  Strong words, considering that he himself retains no episcopal authority in the diocese that he gave up on through his own actions.  Just what is he thinking?

More bad news for Schofield and his rump diocese.  The conservative publication Living Church reports that a close reading of the constitution and canons of the Province of the Southern Cone shows it cannot legally absorb a diocese or parishes in the United States.  In addition, Schofield is past the age of retirement in the province, and so cannot canonically serve as bishop under that proposed authority.  Take a look at the article, is an informative read.   

Comments

[Marya Dodd]

When we lived on Long Island and were active in a parish there, we received Episcopal Life with the diocesan newsletter as a wrap-around. I enjoyed reading about activities in the national church and beyond. Albany does not do this for its members and it is a shame. I follow Episcopal Life online and could subscribe on my own but I feel that there is great value in having an informed laity which would be the case if we all received the national newsletter. Perhaps parishes could get a group subscription rate or Albany Via Media could get a group rate for its members.