San Joaquin Diocese takes

first step towards leaving TEC

By DAVID VIRTUE

Since the 2003 ordination of an openly gay bishop, scores of congregations have left The Episcopal Church but now, for the first time, a diocese has taken measures to leave TEC yet remain within the global Anglican Communion.

On Dec. 2, delegates to the 47th Annual Convention of the Diocese of San Joaquin (pronounced wahkeen) took the first and unprecedented step in the history of The Episcopal Church towards separating from the national church. They voted overwhelmingly to amend their diocesan constitution to change its name from “Episcopal” to “Anglican” in anticipation of transferring its relationships and communion to an orthodox Anglican Province.

In a vote by orders, 68 of the clergy voted in favor of the amendment, 16 were opposed. The lay delegates voted 108 in favor, with 12 opposed. After the vote was counted delegates rose to their feet and erupted in applause.

The amendment to Article II of the diocesan constitution now identifies the Californian diocese specifically as “Anglican,” the term most commonly used throughout the world-wide Anglican Communion, whose historical center is the Church of England.

The language of Article II, “Anglican Identity,” now reads: “The Diocese of San Joaquin is constituted by the Faith, Order, and Practice of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church as received by the Anglican Communion. The Diocese shall be a constituent member of the Anglican Communion and in full communion with the See of Canterbury.”

The constitutional amendment will not take effect until a second vote is taken at another annual convention in 2007. The second reading will require a two-thirds majority in order to pass.

The second and final stage of separation will be determined at a special convention, called by Bishop John-David Schofield that will see a permanent separation from The Episcopal Church.

The Diocese of San Joaquin comprises about 10,000 Episcopalians worshipping in 48 congregations in the eastern middle third of the state of California, from just south of Sacramento to just south of Bakersfield.

More resolutions

The Diocese passed three additional  resolutions which would make the Standing Committee the ecclesiastical authority in the absence of any sitting bishops (in case they are removed), put all diocesan trust funds under the control of the bishop (to prevent the national church from taking them), and permit the diocese unilaterally to extend itself beyond its current geographic boundaries (so other orthodox congregations might join). All passed overwhelmingly.

A resolution regarding “Affiliation in the Anglican Communion” was brought to the floor at the last minute by a diocesan priest:

“Whereas the 2006 GC of the TEC did not adequately respond to the requests of the Windsor Report, thereby placing the relationship of TEC to the Anglican Communion in jeopardy; and whereas the primates of the Global South have declared “the time has come to take initial steps towards the formation of what will be recognized as a separate ecclesiastical structure of the Anglican Communion in the USA”; and whereas our worldwide identity as Anglicans in this diocese is contingent on affiliation with a recognized province of the Anglican Communion; therefore be it resolved this 47th convention of the Diocese of San Joaquin direct the bishop, counsel and Standing Committee to assess the means for our affiliation with a recognized ecclesiastical structure of the Anglican Communion, and to bring to the 48th convention of this diocese a detailed plan for the preservation of our relationship with the Anglican Communion.”  (No vote by orders. 166 yeas and 4 nays.)

Reaction

Two days later Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said she “lamented” the actions of Bishop Schofield and the Convention “to repudiate their membership in the Episcopal Church.” She recognized that “this process is not yet complete” but said, “the fact that the Bishop and Convention have voted to remove the accession clause required by the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church would seem to imply that there is no intent to terminate this process before it reaches its full conclusion.” She concluded by saying that she continues “to consult with others involved in responding to this extracanonical action.”

However, many observers think that the Presiding Bishop cannot depose Bishop Schofield or even threaten to inhibit him, because he has made no statement about leaving The Episcopal Church.