St Andrew's Church in Taft, California Rejoins the Episcopal Church
A man who used to be the bishop of the Episcopal diocese of San Joaquin seems to think he is now the “Anglican Bishop” of that diocese. Which makes less sense than usual since the diocese in question is part of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America.
Now comes the charge that “The Episcopal Bishop of San Joaquin, Jerry Lamb has seized the property of the 18-member St Andrew's Church in Taft, California” from the web site maintained by arch- schismatic David Virtue.
Virtue complains: “He [the real bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin] appropriated it from the Anglican Bishop of the diocese, John-David Schofield, changed the locks on the parish doors and told the priest-in-charge that he was out and not to return.”
Apparently 11 of the church’s 18 members met and voted (9-2) voted to continue to be part of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin. How unfair of them to practice democracy in church without their ex-bishop’s permission!
"Neither the priest, nor the wardens nor Bishop Schofield were advised of this meeting, and therefore the gathering, held on church property, was without the authority reserved to the Priest-in-Charge,” Virtue suggests. Why any people appointed by the “Anglican Bishop” of some other diocese would have any authority in this matter was not explained.
Perhaps this would not have been such a surprise to the ex- bishop Schofield if he had allowed members of this mission to make a free and informed decision. But that would have required a dash of concern for the rights and preferences of individual Episcopalians that has never been demonstrated in that ex-bishop’s life.
So far this spring, the ex-bishop Schofield’s effort to take off with the assets of the Episcopal diocese has faltered (and those assets have been frozen) and now this 18-memebr mission church has stood up to him and resisted his bullying tactics. Looks like things are not going according to plan for that one-time bishop.
Makes you wonder if the conservative bishops realize they made a made a slight miscalculation in voting for our Presiding Bishop on the presumption that they could walk all over her (after all she is a women and they are all men).
posted by Tom Jackson at
6/16/2008 10:19:00 PM
2 Comments:
-Schofield remains a bishop of the Anglican Communion. (Rowan Williams, a colleague and the archbishop of Canterbury has invited him.)
-The Taft 'parish' is a mission, and as such is subject to the direct control and authority of the diocesan bishop. Schofield is the 'corporation sole' of the diocese. In that capacity, he has both legal authority (articles of incorporation and legal title), as well as ecclesiastical authority (diocesan ordinary) to control and dispense with said real property (including closing the mission and selling the real property).
-Jerry Lamb is not the diocesan authority empowered to make those legal and ecclesiastical decisions. As such, the actions he authorized constitute illegal activity which may be subject to criminal prosecution. I fully expect Schofield to ask for and obtain a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Superior Court to compel the invaders of the Taft mission to vacate the property forthwith in order to return same to its status as a mission of the Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin.
-Mrs. Schori, as TEC Presiding Bishop, has no canonical authority to intrude nor manipulate the San Joaquin diocese to her liking. The fact that she is a female is irrelevant.
-David Virtue is a courageous Christian who countenances no heresy from people of your ilk. The 'arch schismatic' is not David Virtue; I suggest you go look in the mirror.
By
Anonymous, At
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 12:17:00 AM
Well, "Anon," I guess the courage of your convictions does not extend to signing your name.
1. Whether "Schofield remains a bishop of the Anglican Communion" remains to be seen.
2. Yes a mission parish is under a bishop's control - but as you note, Mr. Schofield is no longer the Episcopal bishop of that diocese. Thus he has no administrative control over it. (You really can't have your cake and eat it too>)
3. Bishop Lamb is the Episcopal Bishop of that diocese. Good luck finding a police officer or prosecutor who will charge him in you bizarre scheme of criminal law. But if we are to talk of criminal charges, then Mr. Schofield had better put the money and assets back real quick. I don't think he'd do well in prison.
4. Presiding Bishop Schori has all the canonical authority she needs to correct the canonical errors of Mr. Schofield.
5. If you truly think the fact that Presiding Bishop Schori is a woman is "irrelevant," then you have not been paying attention for the last 30 years.
6. In order for someone to be an 'arch schismatic,' they need to advocate splitting God's church through schism. That is precisely what David Virtue continues to do. I do not advocate splitting the church nor am I planning to leave. Since I neither advocate schism nor intended to be part of a splinter group leaving the church, I cannot be a schismatic let alone an 'arch schismatic.' That title rests securely with Virtue.
By
Tom Jackson, At
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 12:15:00 PM
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