What’s happened since the San Joaquin Diocese, under the leadership of Bishop John-David Schofield, became the first diocese in the country to leave the Episcopal Church in December 2007?
Four dioceses and more than 600 individual congregations in the United States have left the church over the interpretation of Scripture, including whether Jesus is the only way to salvation and the ordination of gay clergy.
The Episcopal Church has filed lawsuits against all parishes that left, claiming that the properties were set up as Episcopal and therefore belong to that denomination. The departing parishes and dioceses say they are still part of the international church — the worldwide Anglican Communion, of which the Episcopal Church is a part — and, as such, should be able to retain their property.
The conflict has escalated internationally.
I think it is interesting that those who left St. Paul’s and gave the huge church back to Jerry Lamb and the faux diocese are larger, and last I heard about a month ago, are bigger than this story represents. Yet the Remain Episcopals only had 30 people in church….how in the world are they truly maintaining that huge building? I think sooner rather than later it will be up for sale. I know they are hurting for cash.
Gee would Lamb sell out buildings that over 90% of the voters in the diocesan convention are worshipping in by people who told Schori to take a long walk off a short pier? True Anglican presence will grow in whatever venue the Lord blesses us with and these carpetbaggers will fade into the dustbin of history.
Intercessor
Looking for the news here and not finding it. Slow summer weekend in Modesto, i guess.
The article doesn’t mention the fact that the money which came from TEC to operate the faux diocese has run out, I believe.
” . . . although supporting Schofield’s vote to leave the Episcopal Church, [St Paul’s] chose to align itself with the Anglican Mission in the Americas . . .”
What could possibly justify this seemingly schismatic act?
Many of us have been asking ourselves that very same question especially since Bishop Schofield said for those who wanted to remain in TEC could do so and keep their buildings and assets as long as they were not leaving the diocese with a huge debt owed. Then St. Paul’s & their rector, Fr. McClenighan, decides to (although many believe that he had this intention all along & had been working towards this before the second vote) join AMiA and when they got themselves settled in AMiA he turns over the keys to church to Lamb. I have words but God calls me to be nice so I will not speak them and just ask God to help me forgive regarding this matter.
You’re not alone in this diocese, TL!
Don C. – I agree with your comment – this is one of those instances where the AM should have said “no – stay with your diocese, there is no reason for you to leave it.”
TL and Cennydd – Don’t be too angry about what happened. I shared your feelings, but have since heard from DSJ sources that what McClenighan did (with regard to the property) was actually quite a strategic decision and a much better decision in reality then it appears from this news article (i.e., their new “rented” property is much more suited to growth then the old one). And they have just hung a millstone around the neck of Jerry Lamb and the TEC diocese – TEC now has a huge, expensive-to-maintain property that they can’t afford with the congregation it has. So McClenighan has a better suited property and Jerry Lamb has been given a millstone to hang around his neck disguised as a life preserver.