Episcopal Remnants Undeterred by Historic Split
Days after the first ever Episcopal diocese voted to secede from the national church, Episcopal leaders have revealed plans to continue the diocese.
Delegates of the Diocese of San Joaquin in California overwhelmingly voted on Saturday to sever ties with The Episcopal Church over its liberal direction on theology and Scripture. The few that chose to stay are now working with leaders from neighboring dioceses and those from the wider church to "provide for the continuation" of the Diocese of San Joaquin, said Michael Glass, a San Rafael, Calif.-based attorney.
Glass represents congregations and individuals who want to remain in the national church.
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Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, the Episcopal head, has appointed the Rev. Robert Moore to provide an ongoing pastoral presence to the continuing Episcopalians in the California diocese.
"The presiding bishop wants the people of San Joaquin to be assured of her prayers and also of her support in the coming days," said the Rev. Charles Robertson, canon to the presiding bishop, according to the Episcopal News Service.
Ahead of Saturday's vote, Jefferts Schori had warned San Joaquin bishop John David Schofield to draw back from plans to withdraw. Schofield, however, went ahead with the vote at the diocese's 48th annual convention last weekend when an overwhelming majority approved the split with the national church.
"This is the first time, I believe, that a diocese has finally said 'enough' in terms of the liberal theology of The Episcopal Church," Schofield said before the vote.
Saturday's vote to disassociate and realign with an overseas conservative Anglican province - the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone - was the second approval required for the diocese to remove mention of accession to The Episcopal Church on its constitution. It also marked the first time an entire diocese has chosen to secede from The Episcopal Church.
The Episcopal Church is the U.S. arm of the 77 million-member Anglican Communion - the world's third largest Christian body.
The U.S. church had widened rifts when it consecrated openly gay bishop V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire in 2003.
Lawsuits over church property are expected to be filed against leaders and congregations that have departed.
Meanwhile, parishes in the diocese that are undecided about the decision to depart are allowed to go through a "period of discernment" to "determine whether or not they are comfortable with the decisions made by their delegates," according to the Rev. Canon William Gandenberger. Those who disagree with the vote may appeal to the bishop for release.
California attorney Glass said those remaining in the national church will come together soon with other Episcopal leaders "to finalize our coordinated efforts to provide for the leadership needs, the legal and pastoral issues, and the financial concerns of our brothers and sisters in San Joaquin, and to provide for the continuation of the diocese."
