The Episcopal Church’s deposition of Bishop John-David Schofield of San Joaquin has had no immediate effect on his invitation to attend this summer’s Lambeth Conference of bishops.

A Lambeth Conference spokesperson said the House of Bishops’ March 12 actions will have an impact throughout the Anglican Communion, but “it will take some time for these [implications] to be considered properly.” The source is not authorized to speak on the subject and therefore declined to be named.

At a Jan. 21 press conference announcing the Lambeth program, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said he was  “waiting on what comes out of the American House of Bishops’ discussion.  At the moment he still has an invitation.”  It is possible that Archbishop Williams will not withdraw Bishop Schofield’s invitation. Bishop Schofield and another bishop deposed during the spring retreat, the Rt. Rev. William Cox, retired Suffragan Bishop of Maryland, have both been accepted into the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone. Since he is retired, Bishop Cox was not eligible for a Lambeth invitation.

Presiding Bishop Gregory Venables of the Southern Cone has said he will not attend Lambeth. Although the House of Bishops of the Southern Cone is relatively small in number, Archbishop Williams wants as many bishops as possible to attend. Excluding Bishop Schofield will work against that purpose.

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