The Rt. Rev. John-David Schofield, Bishop of San Joaquin, has exercised his right under the canons to reschedule the date of the annual convention. The new date is Dec. 7-8 at St. James’ Cathedral in Fresno, Calif. The convention originally had been planned for October.

The Rev. Van McCalister, public relations officer for the diocese, said the change in date was primarily made to give the voting members of convention time for prayer and careful consideration of the unusually large number of important events scheduled this fall. These include the fall meeting of the House of Bishops, at which the bishops are expected to consider requests made of The Episcopal Church by the primates of the Anglican Communion.

“We are very aware of the fact that this is a very important transitional moment, no matter how the vote goes,” Fr. McCalister said. “We’re just in a ‘wait-and-see’ mode right now, however.”

Last year diocesan clergy and lay delegates approved the first reading of controversial changes to remove language acknowledging the diocese as a constituent part of The Episcopal Church from its constitution and canons. In order to be approved, the changes must pass at two consecutive conventions. If approved it is possible that the diocese would face a legal challenge.

The Rev. Jim Snell, rector of St. Columba, Fresno, and president of the standing committee, told The Living Church he had not seen any of the resolutions proposed for convention this year, but he was confident that the second reading of the proposed canonical changes would be among those debated. Resolutions need to be filed with the secretary of convention no later than 60 days prior to the start of convention in the diocese.

In June, the national Executive Council approved a resolution declaring “null and void” changes by several dioceses, including San Joaquin, to qualify their accession to national church bylaws. David Booth Beers, the Presiding Bishop’s chancellor, and the House of Bishop’s Task Force on Property Disputes are also on record in opposition to such changes.

Fr. Snell said he was not certain that clergy and lay delegates would spend much time considering how national church leaders would react after the final vote on the proposed canonical changes. Civil litigation could have far-reaching implications.

There are a number of cases pending in California where an Episcopal diocese has challenged decisions by local congregations to remain in their building after voting to leave The Episcopal Church. Earlier this year, the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, ruled in favor of the Diocese of Los Angeles which filed court documents seeking to be declared the rightful owner of the buildings after the majority of members in three congregations voted to leave The Episcopal Church and affiliate with the Anglican Church of Uganda.

That decision appears to contradict a recent decision by the California Fifth District Court of Appeal, which ruled in favor of a local congregation which sought to remain in its church building after the majority voted to leave the United Methodist Church.

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