It comes as no surprise that the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church has initiated canonical actions against the Rt. Rev. John-David Schofield to remove him from office. However, the matter is complicated by the fact that Bishop Schofield and the Diocese of San Joaquin, by constitutional action of their Convention, are no longer a part of The Episcopal Church. They now function under the authority of the Province of the Southern Cone. Disciplinary actions cannot be taken by this Province against a Bishop who is a member of another Province of the Anglican Communion.
The House of Bishops of TEC can indeed prevent Bishop Schofield from functioning as a Bishop in congregations of The Episcopal Church. However, they cannot invalidate his consecration as a Bishop in the Church of God, nor prevent him from functioning as such in congregations that welcome and affirm his ministry as their Bishop.
The Bishop of San Joaquin has my friendship, my support, and my prayers during this time of turmoil in the life of our church.
The Rt. Rev. Jack Leo Iker
Bishop of Fort Worth
January 12, 2008
God bless you, Bishop Iker. Many offer prayers for you and Bishop Scholfield daily. Thank you both for being true apostolic leaders.
They tried that crap with our priests and deacons at Christ Church, Overland Park.
Barn Door. Horse. Irrelevant.
It is all very complicated. Certainly Bishop Schofield remains a bishop and will do even if “deposed” by TEC. Orders are indelible and if he is now in good standing elsewhere, then any attempt to unfrock him is doctrinally odd.
Again there are bishops sitting on the episcopal bench in TEC whose are obviously in violation of the “Doctrine and Discipline” of TEC as expressed in its formularies. Obviously there’s not much sauce for the goose around nowadays.
On the other hand TEC must by Canon deal with clergy of whatever rank who abandon its Communion as presently defined. I see no canonical leeway there. Once again TEC is constructed as if it were THE church rather than a Province of a segment (Anglican Communion) of the Church Catholic. There have been improvements to the “abandonment Canon”. Until recently all were lumped in the same category whether they left to become Roman Catholics or absconded with the organist’s wife.
However, they cannot invalidate his consecration as a Bishop in the Church of God, nor prevent him from functioning as such in congregations that welcome and affirm his ministry as their Bishop.
How quaint. +Schofield is no longer a bishop in the Anglican Communion. He may remain a self-declared bishop, but that and $6 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks
#4
You might want to check that assertion out with the Archbishop of Canterbury since the last I checked, Schofield’s still going to the Lambeth Conference. What Irrelevance-on-the-Hudson thinks about Schofield’s Anglican status is less than meaningless.
Don’t stop him; he’s on a roll.
# 4: “+Schofield is no longer a bishop in the Anglican Communion.”
And you know this how? Brianus ex T19 locutus est – causa finita est!
We have yet to see how Canterbury will respond to +Schofield’s new job.
“Irrelevance-on-the-Hudson”
Christopher Johnson
Shocked I am at this blatant disrespect. That should have been [i]Presiding Bishop[/i] Irrelevance-on-the-Hudson. Respect the Office man. 😉
carl
People make themselves irrelevant when they believe their own fantasies.
#9,
I was actually referring to the institution. 😉
This is simply a statement of support by +Iker and adds nothing–except, perhaps, a signal that he will be following suit after the next Fort Worth convention.
Bob #12,
For the second time in two years, I find myself agreeing with you, a fellow Carolinian (howbeit, formerly from different dioceses in NC).
Yes, the Diocese of Fort Worth will most likely “be following suit after the next Fort Worth convention.” You are probably right about that – happily for me, but sadly for you, obviously.
I am thanking the Lord for God-honoring Bishops such as Iker and Schofield – great leaders guided by the Holy Spirit.
(My old grammar school favourite hymn – Lead us heavenly Father, lead us – comes to mind for such a time as this).
We can’t wait!! Godspeed!!!
Fr. Kingsley+
Arlington (Dio of FW)
[blockquote]This is simply a statement of support by +Iker and adds nothing–except, perhaps, a signal that he will be following suit after the next Fort Worth convention. [/blockquote]
From your mouth to God’s ear, Bob, and me DioFW be the second of many.
oops….I meant “may”
As for Presiding Bishop of Irrelevance-on-the-Hudson, why not just shorten it to Presiding Irrelevance. And while your at it, extend the tangent to the ArchIrrelevance of Canterbury, who has had a vibrantly nugatory effect on the cohesiveness of the Communion (big C or little c).
Macbeth plays out again as ‘sound and fury, signifying nothing’ comes from California, the Southern Cone, Forth Worth and New York. Certainly all of these pronouncements have little real meaning other than to rally the troops of both sides. The real battle is occurring in courtrooms and judges’ chambers in Virginia, California, Texas and so on. The Bishops can take turns inhibiting one another and we can textually assail one another on this forum, but the real battle has moved to the courts.
RevK (#17) supra,
I disagree. The real battle is in the spiritual realms. The “actors†are appearing in courts, conventions, strategy rooms, etc. Some of these actors may even think they are something, powerful or masterful, but the real battle is not visible to the human eyes. That is why I am not distressed or confused about all this. God is still on the throne. All is well for the faithful.
Fr. Kingsley+
Arlington, TX
#18 Other RevK
I don’t disagree with you – ultimately this is a spiritual battle. I apologize for not making it clear that I was merely commenting on the human dimension. In that realm, all the posturing and postulating gives way to whatever the courts say. But ultimately, this is a battle for the souls of Episcopalians/Anglicans.
I cannot speak for others, but for me the pronouncement/counter-pronouncement war grew old quickly. I would be interested to know if any one person’s position on the whole thing has changed because of a press release or a barbed letter from any of the major players.