Bishop John-David Schofield made an impassioned plea Dec. 7 for clergy and lay delegates to the annual convention in the Diocese of San Joaquin to approve the second and final reading of changes that would free the diocese to affiliate with the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone.

 

“Timing matters,” Bishop Schofield said. “God’s timing is essential. Delayed obedience in scripture is seen as disobedience when opportunities and blessings are lost.”

 

Legally there is nothing to prevent the Diocese of San Joaquin seeking primatial oversight outside The Episcopal Church, Bishop Schofield said. In all likelihood, General Convention will amend its constitution and canons to prevent dioceses from breaking union with it. Since changes to the San Joaquin diocesan constitution require approval by two consecutive diocesan conventions, there will probably not be time to try again before the window of opportunity is closed, he said.

 

“For those of us who are facing the unknown, provinces and property seem to be among the top concerns,” Bishop Schofield said. “As bishop, I would like to suggest to you that a ‘no’ vote at this convention will not provide the imagined protection needed to get on with our lives uninterrupted. Many do not realize that for 40 years, with the first 20 under Bishop Victor Rivera, and now nearly 20 years with me, as bishops we have been able to provide a buffer for our people from the innovations that abound in dioceses all around us. A quick trip north, south, east or west is all that it takes to wonder if we’re in the same church with those folks.”

 

Earlier in the week Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori wrote a public letter  to Bishop Schofield, reminding him that he might be charged with abandonment of communion if he continued to advocating for the changes to the diocesan constitution. Bishop Jefferts Schori also expressed concern for Bishop Schofield’s health.

 

In the pulpit of St. James’ Cathedral in Fresno, Bishop Schofield appeared poised and confident. Later during a press conference at the end of the first day of convention, Bishop Schofield spoke critically of the lack of theology he found among colleagues in the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church. He said he would find meetings of bishops the Southern Cone a refreshing change where he would at last feel welcome.

 

Clergy and lay delegates will consider the final reading of the proposed changes to the San Joaquin constitution during the business portion of convention Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. local time. It is by no means certain what will happen if the changes are approved, a point noted by Bishop Schofield. Convention is going ahead with electing deputies to the 76th General Convention in 2009.

 

During his address, Bishop Schofield drew an analogy to Episcopal dioceses in the Confederate States during the Civil War. Like the dioceses in states that seceded from the Union, Bishop Schofield raised the possibility that San Joaquin might one day want to return to The Episcopal Church like the Confederate dioceses did after the conflict had ended.

 

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