A clear majority of bishops voted March 12 to depose Bishop John-David Schofield of San Joaquin and former Bishop Suffragan William Cox of Maryland from the ordained ministry of The Episcopal Church during the business portion of the House of Bishops spring retreat at Camp Allen.
 
“The process used to work through these resolutions took into account the importance of prayer and careful reflection before each vote was taken. Specifically, in both cases the house was first led in prayer by a chaplain, followed by small-group discussion, and then plenary discussion,” said an announcement published by Episcopal News Service. The votes to depose were taken on separate resolutions for each bishop. Following announcement of the results, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori asked the assembled bishops “to continue to reach out” in pastoral care to both bishops Schofield and Cox.
 
The resolution announcing Bishop Schofield’s deposition found him guilty of “departing from The Episcopal Church and purporting to take his diocese with him into affiliation with the Province of the Southern Cone.” Bishop Cox was found guilty of “departing from The Episcopal Church and stating his intention to continue to perform episcopal acts solely under the oversight and jurisdiction of a bishop outside The Episcopal Church without conforming to the constitution and canons of The Episcopal Church.” Bishop Cox has also been received into the House of Bishops of the Southern Cone, which has its provincial headquarters in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
 
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