Bishop John-David Schofield of San Joaquin formally resigned from the House of Bishops in a letter sent to Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori on March 1.
 
Bishop Schofield said it was the only way for the diocese to preserve biblical truth and the historic Anglican faith and order.
 
“It is important to note that this is separation and not schism,” he said “Separation, by definition, is the biblical answer to unrepentant and public false teaching and immorality.”
 
The vote by clergy and lay delegates to the annual convention to amend the diocese’s constitution and canons last December meant that Bishop Schofield had left The Episcopal Church. After the vote, Presiding Bishop Gregory Venables informed Bishop Schofield that he had been welcomed as a member of the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone. Bishop Schofield said he remains Bishop of the Diocese of San Joaquin, and The Episcopal Church “has no jurisdiction or authority” to change that status.
 
“This leaves only my status as a member of the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church to be determined,” he said. “Rather than force the House of Bishops to a vote, I herewith tender my resignation as a member of the House of Bishops effective midnight EST, March 7, 2008.”
 
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