The Diocese of San Joaquin on Saturday voted overwhelmingly to change its constitution to leave the Episcopal Church USA and align with the Southern Cone of the worldwide Anglican Communion because of long-simmering theological issues.
It is the first diocese in the country to take such action.
The constitutional vote was 70-12 (85 percent) by clergy and 103-10 (91 percent) by laity at the diocese’s annual convention in Fresno. A 75 percent vote was required in each group. A subsequent vote to accept the Southern Cone’s oversight was passed by similar margins.
“It’s important to remember that we’ve separated from our brothers and sisters, but we’re also joining our brothers and sisters in the Southern Cone (South America),” said the Rev. Tom Foster, who served at St. Paul’s in Modesto and Christ the King in Riverbank before retiring. He now conducts Sunday services at St. Andrew’s in Mariposa.
“I feel like the Israelites when they came out of Egypt with Moses — I’ve been set free,” Foster said in a phone interview from Fresno. “There is great rejoicing by most people here. We’re full of joy for what has taken place. It’s a very strong feeling.”
Well, this is a sad development. There could be two dioceses of San Jaoquin coming out of this, +Schofield’s joining PSC, and a “continuing” diocese under 815 administration. Or the territory with continuing churches may be split among other California dioceses. The legal suits over property will be an enormous mess and detract from mission, but I don’t think the national church can simply walk away from its rightful claims to property.
Two comments about the news article: (1) “biblical inerrancy” has never been the position of the Episcopal Church and is a minority view among Anglicans, historically speaking; (2) contrary to +Schofield’s statement, TEC will never abandon the Bible; that kind of sweeping assertion is meaningless. Faithful Episcopalians of all stripes will continue to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest Holy Scripture even as they agree or disagree among themselves and with other brothers and sisters over the interpretation of various parts of it. The Church Catholic has never been of one mind over the meaning of scripture, and no group can rightly say that they understand the true meaning of it.