During videotaped remarks shown Jan. 26 at the Church of the Saviour in Hanford, Calif., Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori recognized Episcopalians gathered there as the legitimate members of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin. Bishop Jefferts Schori also announced that she had written to the eight standing committee members informing them that she did not “recognize” them as the standing committee of the diocese.
 
“I understand that these have included voting to amend the diocese’s constitution and canons and attempting to organize as the standing committee of an entity that identifies itself as an Anglican diocese of the Province of the Southern Cone,” Bishop Jefferts Schori wrote. “These actions directly conflict with the constitution and canons of The Episcopal Church,” she added, citing as justification for her action Canon 1.17.8, which requires those holding office in The Episcopal Church to “perform the duties of that office in accordance with the constitution and canons of this church and of the diocese in which the office is being exercised.” The canons are silent as to who determines whether or not an individual has “well and faithfully” performed the duties of office and since in the case of a standing committee it calls into question the fiduciary responsibilities of individuals charged with oversight of a non-profit corporation, it may be necessary to obtain a court order before the six can be “officially” decertified.
 
The announcement was the second in less than a month for six of those San Joaquin standing committee members. On Jan. 19 Bishop John-David Schofield “disqualified” them because they could not certify that they were members of the Southern Cone. Four of the six members disqualified by Bishop Schofield were elected prior to December, and it is uncertain how they voted as individuals at the diocesan convention last December or even if the standing committee ever publicly endorsed disaffiliation prior to the vote at convention. Bishop Schofield cited a Southern Cone canon requiring members of a diocesan standing committee to claim affiliation and allegiance to the province.
 
The ambiguous status of the six raises a possible constitutional problem. Bishop Schofield is under inhibition, and a vote on his deposition, or permanent removal, is scheduled for the next House of Bishops’ meeting in March. Under Episcopal Church canons, the standing committee serves as the ecclesiastical authority of the diocese in the absence of a diocesan bishop. If the six are still members in good standing of The Episcopal Church, it is unclear how they could have been removed from office.
 
Episcopal News Service contributed to this report.
 
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