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Published: January 23, 2008
Recant and steer off course
Episcopal Church moves to discipline seceding California bishop
Episcopal Church leaders have taken disciplinary action against Bishop John-David Schofield, the California bishop whose diocese voted last month to split with the U.S. branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Both lay representatives and clergy of the San Joaquin diocese decided to cease affiliation with the U.S. church and join a South American Anglican jurisdiction on account of the Episcopal Church’s toleration and promotion of homosexuality and other issues which, says the California diocese, depart from biblical orthodoxy.
In response to December’s vote, Episcopal presiding bishop, Katharine Jefferts-Schori said, “the Episcopal Church will continue in the Diocese of San Joaquin, albeit with new leadership.” Earlier in the month, before the vote, she wrote Bishop Schofield that a split with the Episcopal Church "would implicitly reject the Church's property and other canons."
 On Jan. 11, Jefferts-Schori placed an “inhibition” on Schofield, meaning he may not perform religious rites, confirm, or give sermons until Episcopal Church leaders meet on March 13 to decide what do about him, the Rev. Canon Charles Robertson, canon to Jefferts-Schori, told Associated Press. Schofield, said Robertson, "was aware of the consequences of his action, warned repeatedly, and there comes a time when it is important for the church to hold its own leadership accountable. This allows him time to recant and to steer off this course."
Schofield, however, does not seem to see a need for recantation. Reuters reported Jan. 16 that Schofield and his associates have not ceased their ecclesial activities. A Jan. 14 posting on the diocesan web site states that the Episcopal Church’s claims to “oversight and jurisdiction” over the San Joaquin diocese “are not correct.”
“The fact is that neither the Diocese nor Bishop John-David Schofield are part of The Episcopal Church,” said the posting. “The Bishop is a member of the House of Bishops of the Southern Cone as of December 8th, 2007. The Diocese is a part of the Southern Cone.” The posting included a statement from the Southern Cone’s archbishop, Gregory Venables: "As of December the 8th, 2007 Bishop John-David Schofield is not under the authority or jurisdiction of The Episcopal Church or the Presiding Bishop.”
“The Episcopal Church's assertion that Bishop Schofield has abandoned the communion of this Church is an admission that The Episcopal Church rejects the historical Anglican faith,” said the diocese’s posting. “The Episcopal Church's own identity is dependent upon its relationship with the whole Anglican Communion. The Episcopal Church should consider whether it is imperiling that relationship by taking such punitive actions.”
On Jan. 2, 34 active and retired Anglican bishops from around the world wrote to Schofield “to salute you on the courageous decision of the Diocesan Convention of San Joaquin to take leave of The Episcopal Church and to align with the Province of the Southern Cone.” Among the signers was Robert Duncan, Episcopal bishop of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, whose diocese last year took an initial vote to separate from the Episcopal Church and join a foreign jurisdiction. Jefferts-Schori has threatened Duncan with an inhibition, according to Reuters.
Posted Wednesday, January 23, 2008 2:13 AM By jjc
At-least some degree of sanity remains in the Episcopal church. The core of Christianity has always been morals. It has never been to comfort those who persist in sin. I too, salute the Bishop.
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Posted Wednesday, January 23, 2008 4:39 AM By Fr. M.P.
This is what happens when one follows a Protestant process of self-decision versus obedience to God's true Vicar, the Pope. Saying "that a split with the Episcopal Church 'would implicitly reject the Church's property and other canons.' " is ironic since in the original Protestant reformation many Catholic Churches were taken over by those that split. If Luther can do it, why can't their current "bishops?" That is in their 't'radition. More foibles in an ecclesial community of man.
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Posted Wednesday, January 23, 2008 6:54 AM By Ski Ven
This is the quote of the day: "was aware of the consequences of his action, warned repeatedly, and there comes a time when it is important for the church to hold its own leadership accountable..." I can't help but think about church leaders who were repeatedly warned of the consequences of homosexual acts and continued to persist in publicly enabling those acts. There will come a time for those church leaders to be held accountable to the Lord. Bishop John-David Schofield has taken the right course. It is better to obey God than to obey man. Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness....
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Posted Wednesday, January 23, 2008 11:08 AM By Fr. J
And so why can't they discipline a certain ECUSA bishop in New Hampshire?
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Posted Wednesday, January 23, 2008 11:36 AM By Deliah
I am a Roman Catholic in SF who has known Bishop John-David for more than than thirty years. When he was the pastor of the small parish in Marin County and attended the annual conventions at Grace Cathedral in SF, he was unloved by the majority there because his beliefs on morality were different from theirs. He was never, ever judgemental, however. His devotion has brought untold numbers of people "home to Christ."
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Posted Wednesday, January 23, 2008 11:51 AM By Anglican
http://frl.v51.biz/index.asp?offset=&layid=6&navid=78&csid=524&csid1=0&csid2=0&fid1=&fid2=-888&fid3=449
The panelists were also concerned about the incivility that has begun to characterize dealings within the Communion.
Bishop Griswold’s travels to other parts of the world have shown him that “my reality may be extremely different from someone else’s,” he said. He has learned that it is important to make room in heart and mind for “otherness.”
The ways in which different churches do theology can have a significant impact elsewhere in the Communion, he added. Theological latitude experienced in North America threatens churches that are confronted by Islam, because that latitude makes their presentation of the faith appear unfocussed and unclear.
Bishop Harris pointed out that one of the things currently lacking in the Communion is mutual respect. “We need to be listening very carefully to each other about our own realities and learn from each other,” she said.
She recalled the 1988 Lambeth Conference, where one of the issues before the bishops was women in the episcopate. “The notion was that the autonomy of provinces to order their own life and ministry should be respected,” she recalled.
At that same meeting, another issue preoccupying the bishops was polygamy in some African nations. “The plea was, ‘Let us deal with this question in the context of our own culture,’” Bishop Harris said. “The conference felt that was appropriate.”
The four panelists were united in the view that issues of sexuality have over-ridden other more vital issues that the church ought to be confronting.
Bishop Harris said it was at the 1998 Lambeth Conference that a focus on human sexuality suddenly switched to homosexuality. Left in its wake were major issues such as the status of women, genital mutilation of women and HIV/AIDS.
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Posted Wednesday, January 23, 2008 1:57 PM By G.Lee LaBelle
The presiding Bishop sees her self as an arch bishop, which she is not. Her mission to ignore the bible and punish the orthodox has truly shattered the body of Christ. How can we relate to people of other traditions when Jerrords-Schori has a feminist agenda that does not belive there is such a thing as rape, incest, abuse of any sort of gender and generation couplings? I think she sees herself as a feminist first, and Christian only for the position of power and influence.
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Posted Wednesday, January 23, 2008 4:00 PM By Lisa T.
I sure wish it were possible for Roman Catholics under liberal bishop leadership (California) to change bishops.
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Posted Wednesday, January 23, 2008 5:36 PM By Anglican
This is from your.sidneyanglicans.net.
This conference upholds monogamy as God’s plan, and as the ideal relationship of love between husband and wife; nevertheless recommends that a polygamist who responds to the Gospel and wishes to join the Anglican Church may be baptized and confirmed with his believing wives and children on the following conditions:
(1) that the polygamist shall promise not to marry again as long as any of his wives at the time of his conversion are alive;
(2) that the receiving of such a polygamist has the consent of the local Anglican community;
(3) that such a polygamist shall not be compelled to put away any of his wives, on account of the social deprivation they would suffer;
(4) and recommends that provinces where the churches face problems of polygamy are encouraged to share information of their pastoral approach to Christians who become polygamists so that the most appropriate way of disciplining and pastoring them can be found, and that the ACC be requested to facilitate the sharing of that information. Resolution 26/1988
Today there are two prevailing views in Africa as to how to handle the vexed question of baptising and admitting to communion those who are converted polygamists. Broadly speaking there is the Nigerian view and the Kenyan view. Both views reflect a commitment to the ideal of monogamy for all Christians. Both views uphold the ideal of monogamy. Both views disallow any polygamist from being an ordained clergyman. However, the Nigerian view reflects the teaching of the 1988 Lambeth Resolution 26, whereas the Kenyan view is less sympathetic to any Christian having more than one wife, regardless of their marital status before conversion.
The Nigerian view argues that a polygamist who is converted ought to be baptised and admitted to communion, along with as many of his wives who are believers. However, he is not to marry any more wives. To do so would be to come under the discipline of the church. It is argued, that what has happened cannot be undone and that for the sake of the wives (many of whom would be destitute without the support of the husband) the families should remain int
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Posted Thursday, January 24, 2008 3:17 AM By D.C. Episcopalian
"The core of Christianity has always been morals."
JJC, my brother or sister in our Lord, I do think that the core of Christianity is the two great commandments: love God, and love your neighbor. "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."
A much harder path to follow than any specific rule book, to be sure.
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Posted Thursday, January 24, 2008 1:36 PM By Janek
Once again this matter is of no concern this is a phony church created by a many times divorced King of England Henry the VIII not the Holy Roman Catholic Church founded by Our Lord Jesus Christ. The Anglicans need to return to Rome as many of the Traditional Anglo-Catholics are doing now!
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Posted Thursday, January 24, 2008 3:29 PM By John L. Sillasen
D.C.Episcopalian, then why not heed your own quote and follow the Law and Prophets, which lead you into the Catholic Church?
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Posted Thursday, January 24, 2008 4:56 PM By D.C. Anglican
DCEpiscopalian - does not Paul say that while everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial. There are many who ask that while every study said there was nothing in Scripture or Tradition to justify the change in teachings, how can you reassure us that we are not "following too much the devices and desires of our own hearts?" Nobody ever answered that for me. Instead they called me names and degraded me for asking questions. The told me I was "homophobic" just for asking questions. I was told that despite years of working for Habitat and leading Youth Ministry, I was "hateful" and "divisive." So where is the love here?
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Posted Thursday, January 24, 2008 5:13 PM By Anglican
In its infancy, the early Church spread from Jerusalem around the Mediterranean regions, and then to other parts of Asia, Africa and Europe. Britain was, at that time, a part of the Roman Empire, and Christianity probably arrived with merchants and seafarers. By early in the 4th century the British (Celtic) Church was sufficiently strong to have a number of bishoprics: in the year 314 three British bishops participated in the Council of Arles, summoned by the Emperor Constantine.
Upon the departure of the Roman Legions in the 5th century, the southern parts of Britain were invaded by page Angles and Saxons, who drove the Britons and their Church into the safety of the western hills (Wales) and Cornwall. Although actually seven different kingdoms, from this time the southeast sector occupied by the Anglo-Saxons began to be called "Angle-land" (later contracted to "England").
In 597 a new Church mission headed by St. Augustine arrived from Rome. Augustine's claims to jurisdiction were rejected by the British bishops, but he succeeded in re-establishing Christianity in parts of the south of Britain. Meanwhile, Christianity was being spread in the north by Celtic missionaries -- notably St. Columba of Iona and St. Aidan of Lindisfarne.
Representatives of the Celtic missions in the north and the Latin missions in the south of England met at the Synod of Whitby in 664, and amalgamated to form a single Church -- the Church of England, with dual primacies at Canterbury and York. The unity achieved was particularly due to St. Hilda, Abbess of Whitby, a remarkable scholar at whose monastery the synod was held.
For the next 400 years the Church of England (like the Eastern Orthodox Churches) remained in communion with, but not under the formal jurisdiction of, the See of Rome. Although imposed by military force in 1066, papal jurisdiction brought certain benefits and so for a time was accepted. These benefits included a revival of scholarship, efficient administration and international support for the bishops when they found themselves in conflict with the state.
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Posted Thursday, January 24, 2008 6:02 PM By JPeterman
I invite all Episcopalians to come home the Catholic Church which is the only true church. Don't waste another second of your life in the wrong "church". God Bless and welcome home.
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Posted Thursday, January 24, 2008 10:07 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
Janek,
One of the main obstacles to Episcopalians who earnestly want to return the the True Church, is a Catholic Cardinal by the name of Kasper, and he is the Head of the Congregation for those outside the Church, go figure!
Pray for this wayward Prince of the Church!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher, Founder & Chairman
Concerned Roman Catholics of America, Inc.
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Posted Friday, January 25, 2008 7:10 AM By Grisha
Kenneth: Once again this phrase True (with a capital T) Church shows up. Once again, I ask: What is it? Is it the onne I've belonged to since July 25 1947 and is reperesented in my community by the Archdiocise of San Francisco headed by Archbishop Niedeour who was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI, or is it another one?
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Posted Friday, January 25, 2008 9:58 AM By Janek
Kenneth, that's what truly puzzles me about Kaspar 40 years ago Holy Church would have been delighted that thousands of our brothers in the Anglican Communion would want to come back to the fold yet Kaspar and his ilk road block it why?
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Posted Friday, January 25, 2008 1:25 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
Grisha,
If you don't know the answer to your own question, I doubt anything I could write would correct that, but I will try.
A True Catholic Church follows all the teachings of Christ and His Magisterium, and it certainly doesn't teach that we as Christ followers are not to try to convert anyone. If your particular parish does that, congratulations!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher, Founder & Chairman Concerned Roman Catholics of America, Inc.
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Posted Saturday, January 26, 2008 6:56 AM By Grisha
Kenneth: As an adult, I've belonged to 5 parishes. All of them have "follows all the teachings of Christ and His Magisterium." Each Easter, all of them - as far as I know bring converts into the faith. I've also attended masses Iaround the US and in Russia, including at Byzantine rite churches and those ministerd to by various religious orders. My daughter was involved in a parish in a small town in Ireland for a year. We've found nothing other than the teachings of the Church. If there are any "untrue" catholic churches out there, other than the several "American" Catholic churchs', Ms. English's
"Independent Catholic Church of the West"and the "True Catholic Church" of Pope Pius XIII, Our family hasn't found one yet.
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Posted Saturday, January 26, 2008 11:35 AM By Kenneth M. Fisher
Grisha,
Go to the Website of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Religious Education Congress and you will see a Lesbian, pro-abortion, Episcopalian Priestess, Gwynn Guibord, and many others who teach in contradiction to the teachings of His Church listed as honored speakers.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher, Founder & Chairman Concerned Roman Catholics of America, Inc.
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Posted Monday, January 28, 2008 1:58 PM By Grisha
Ken - Again - Gwynn Guibord is only one of maybe a hundred presenters. I know the word "heritic" gets thrown around with much abandon here,. but I'd really like to know how manty other speakers you relly belive are opposed to the teachings of the Church. PS: My wife looked at it and she thinks I ought to go.
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Posted Monday, January 28, 2008 3:13 PM By Betty
That comment about "Wouldn' t it be great if we Catholics could change our bishops" really got to me. if you think about it long enough, there are a lot of reasons why that wouldn't be so great. Some of the hierarchy exasperate some of us but.........
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Posted Tuesday, January 29, 2008 7:23 PM By John L. Sillasen
Grisha, there is solid reason why the word "heretic" is tossed around like a Caesar salad ... because it's rife in our time in history, and needs to be dealt with. Or, would you prefer us to make like ostriches and bury our heads in the sand? Are you aware that the Book of Genesis shows that the Godhead talks to Themselves? And we Catholics, the Body of Christ ... shouldn't we also talk among ourselves in imitation of the Trinity?
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Posted Tuesday, February 05, 2008 6:57 AM By Steve
I invite everyone to visit a true Anglican Catholic parishes’ website. http://www.fwepiscopal.org/st.timothy/
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Posted Tuesday, February 05, 2008 6:59 AM By Steve
I invite everyone to visit a true Anglican Catholic parishes’ website. http://www.fwepiscopal.org/st.timothy/
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Posted Tuesday, February 05, 2008 7:54 AM By Steve
2 Peter 2
1But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
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Posted Thursday, February 21, 2008 6:36 AM By bob
YTEDob hi great site thx http://peace.com
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