Bishop John-David Schofield Inhibited

Presiding Bishop inhibits San Joaquin bishop 

My bishop, Bishop Leo Frade, Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of SE Florida was one of the three senior bishops to find cause for inhibition. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Action comes after Review Committee says Schofield has abandoned the  Episcopal Church    My bishop, Bishop Leo Frade, Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of SE Florida was one of the three senior bishops to find cause for inhibition. By Mary Frances Schjonberg    Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori on January 11 inhibited  Diocese of San Joaquin Bishop John-David Schofield.    In the text of the inhibition, Jefferts Schori wrote: "I hereby  inhibit the said Bishop Schofield and order that from and after 5:00  p.m. PST, Friday, January 11, 2008, he cease from exercising the gifts  of ordination in the ordained ministry of this Church; and pursuant to  Canon IV.15, I order him from and after that time to cease all  'episcopal, ministerial, and canonical acts, except as relate to the  administration of the temporal affairs of the Diocese of San Joaquin,'  until this Inhibition is terminated pursuant to Canon IV.9(2) or  superseded by decision of the House of Bishops."    Jefferts Schori acted after the Title IV Review Committee certified  that Schofield had abandoned the communion of the Episcopal Church.    Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_93559_ENG_HTM.htm 

A Christmas Message from Rev. Vincent Scotto, Punta Gorda, FL

The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Punta Gorda, FL

Father Vince

I was tickled when a dear church friend, Keith Duke emailed this Christmas message from Father Vince.  And I just can't blog it without appropriate commentary when it's by somebody who is really special to me.  

I received Father Vince's Christmas message when memories of Christmases past are in my thoughts and on my sleeve as well.

About a year after my mom passed away and about a year before my dad passed on, I was in Punta Gorda visiting my brother, sister-in-law and my dad.  I had invited my dad to go to church with me rather than the Salvation Army in Port Charlotte wherethey transferred to when they moved from St. Petersburg to Punta Gorda.  Dad had never been in an Episcopal Church before.  And my dad's Alzheimer's was rearing it's ugly head since my mom died. Anyway, to make a long story short the prayer bench fell down on my dad's foot and he let out a loud yelp, but let me know he was going to be okay. 

Going out of the church, dad shook Father Vince's hand and told him that the sermon was very good. 

In his kind and and jovial way, Father Vince thanked him.  The lady ass't rector had preached the sermon that Sunday morning.   

My dad constantly practiced the love Father Vince talks about in his Christmas message. Gordon Sr also had a great sense of humor and managed to smile and tell funny stories until the moment he died in the hospital in Port Charlotte in February of 1999.  I was holding one of his hands, my sister the other as we kept saying to dad, "One more breath, just take another one."  He took two more deep breaths, blew them out like a whistle and died with a smile on his face. My dad touched the lives of thousands of people both pre and post Alzheimer's diagnosis.

I hope I can handle my Alzheimers as it progresses with the grace and humor of my dad.

Larry and me went over to Punta Gorda last summer for the 4th of July to visit family and of course we made a point to get to the Church of the Good Shepherd.  It was good to see Father Vince again and sit and visit for a few minutes after the service.

I encourage any reader who visits southwest Florida to consider visiting one of the most beautiful small towns in America and attend services at Church of the Good Shepherd while visiting.

And now, a word from Father Vince:  

Let's give the greatest gift this Christmas season:  the gift of love. 

A BLESSED AND JOYOUS CHRISTMAS…………..Vince & Kathleen

 

I CORINTHIANS 13 A CHRISTMAS VERSION

 

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, 

I'm just another decorator. 

 

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family,

I'm just another cook. 

 

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family,

it profits me nothing. 

 

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ,

I have missed the point.

 

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.  Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.  Love is kind, though harried and tired.  Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.  Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way,

but is thankful they are there to be in the way. 

 

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 

 

Love never fails.  Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but

giving the gift of love will endure.

 

Merry Christmas and lots of love to you and yours!

Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin Leaves The Episcopal Church

"Saddle up your horses."

....Bonnie Anderson, President of the Episcopal House of Deputies to Fort Worth Episcopalians.

Stars of Brokeback Mountain who saddled up their horses.

Bishop John-David Schofield, was Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin until last weekend when he decided to take his marbles and run to join up with the Southern Cone. He says he's not an Episcopalian anymore, but an Anglican.

Cynic that I am, the first though to come to mind when I heard that the Diocese of San Joaquin, (CA) had voted to withdraw from The Episcopal Church and join up with some Anglican group in South America, my first thought was, "is Bonnie Anderson, president of the House of Deputies, going to tell those Episcopalians in San Joaquin to "saddle up your horses?"  which is what she told the folks in Fort Worth a couple of months ago?  And the first thought to come to mind when she said that, was BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN.

The answer to that question is a resounding, "NO!"  For those who don't understand Anglican politics,  our Presiding Bishop, the House of Bishops and our President of House of Deputies must follow canon law. It takes two meetings, each held yearly, to vote.  Pittsburgh and Fort Worth had their first votes in recent weeks so they won't be in the same position that the Diocese of San Joaquin is in until next fall.

During the year in between is where Episcopalians are in the lurch. Outside Bishops can't go into another territory and the diocese hasn't officially declared they are leaving the denomination yet. Therefore, their leadership can take no action during that period.

Here is the press release by the Episcopal News Service.  Below that is the press release by the Remain Episcopal, Diocese of San Joaquin. 

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Episcopal News Service] 

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has written to Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin Bishop John-David Schofield saying that she assumes his declaration that he is now under the authority of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone "means you understand yourself to have departed the Episcopal Church and are no longer functioning as a member of the clergy in this Church."

In a December 14 letter which was emailed to Schofield, Jefferts Schori wrote that she was "deeply saddened" to hear of the San Joaquin convention's actions. "I would like to have confirmation from you of this understanding of your status," she wrote. "Many interrelated matters depend on that status -- for example, your membership in the House of Bishops and the acceptability of pension contributions on your behalf." read more: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_92860_ENG_HTM.htm

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News Release 

For Immediate Release 

Nov. 8, 2007 

San Joaquin Diocese Will Continue With or Without Bishop Schofield 

FRESNO, CA -- There's no such thing as squatter's rights in the Episcopal Church.  

That's the lesson Bishop John David Schofield will learn if he follows through with his 

threat to quit the Episcopal Church and take as many members of the San Joaquin 

Diocese with him as he can, according to national church officials.

  

Schofield claims that he will still be the diocesan bishop after the Dec. 7-8 convention in Fresno in which a majority of delegates are expected to vote to leave the church with him. But national 

church officials point out that, ecclesiastically speaking, he will be a bishop without a 

diocese. He can go, but the diocese remains. 

The national church's Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori, has publicly notified 

Schofield, along with the handful of other bishops who are actively seeking to 

withdraw their dioceses from the Episcopal Church (TEC), of the theological, canonical 

and legal issues involved, as well as the ramifications of voting to leave the church. [Full 

text of this warning from TEC can be found at 

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_91480_ENG_HTM.htm]  

If Bishop Schofield does quit the church, the 14-county Episcopal diocese in central 

California will continue. It will have the support of the national church, surrounding 

dioceses and those individuals, parishes and groups that remain with the church. 

Many of the latter are members of Remain Episcopal, a group of clergy and lay people formed 

in 2003 for the sole purpose of assuring that the Episcopal Church remains alive and 

well in this diocese. Speaking on behalf of the Remain Episcopal Board, President Cindy 

Smith said: 

We in Remain Episcopal choose to continue the long-established 

relationship and affiliation we have with the Episcopal Church in the United 

States. We are deeply troubled that Bishop John-David Schofield is aggressively 

pursuing leaving the church. Remain Episcopal admits that it does not 

know what his exact plans are, whether to set up his own denomination, 

affiliate with one or more American splinter groups, or even align with a 

group in Africa or South America. Even more troubling is his desire to take 

as many Episcopalians with him as he can. 

If Bishop Schofield and the majority of the delegates do vote in December 

to leave, the Episcopal Church will still be alive and well in San Joaquin, 

although somewhat smaller. The Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin existed 

long before Bishop Schofield was elected and will continue to exist after 

he leaves. While he is a bishop, he is not the church, he is not the diocese, 

nor, by leaving, can he define whether or not the Episcopal Church will 

continue in this diocese.  

Episcopalians in San Joaquin will still gather to pray and worship and 

celebrate the Eucharist together as part of the Episcopal Church and the 

Anglican Communion.  

To get involved in assuring the continuance of the Episcopal Church in this area, contact Remain Episcopal at www.remainepiscopal.org or email contact@remainepiscopal.org 

Media Contact: Stef Donev, (661) 599-2871; email media@remainepiscopal.org 

Remain Episcopal Co-Founder: Nancy Key,  daytime (559) 244-0262; evening 559-269-9013; 

email nkey@keywritingconcepts.com 

  

 

From the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon

Resolved, That the 119th Diocesan Convention deplores the lack of access to

adequate pastoral care and liturgical rites for the lives of gay, lesbian,

bisexual, and transgender people in The Episcopal Church and calls upon the

House of Bishops to publish guidelines for such care; and be it further

Resolved, That the 119th Diocesan Convention recognizes Integrity, Inc., and

it’s local presence, Integrity/Portland as an official diocesan program, and

calls upon the Diocese of Oregon and Integrity to build a positive working

relationship to meet the pastoral needs of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and

Transgender persons in the diocese of Oregon; and be it further

Resolved, That the 119th Diocesan Convention commends the House of Bishops

for its call to increase implementation of the Communion-wide listening

process as a process of real engagement, and calls upon the Presiding Bishop

and her staff to further develop this process within the Episcopal Church,

recognizing that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people continue to

be marginalized in many parts of our Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the 119th Diocesan Convention commends the House of Bishops

for its call for the full participation of the Bishop of New Hampshire in

the 2008 Lambeth Conference, and acknowledges the basic contradiction

between support for Bishop Robinson and the implementation of B033; and be

it further

Resolved, That the 119th Diocesan Convention commends the House of Bishops

for its support for the civil rights, safety, and dignity of gay and lesbian

persons, and calls upon the General Convention to work to resolve speedily

and justly the basic contradiction between such support in civil society and

the absence of such support within the Church’s own pastoral and sacramental

life.

More Pictures of Annual Convention

At the top, is your's truly taken from our hotel patio on the 25th floor looking over Biscayne Bay and the Miami Yacht Club.

The middle picture are Larry and me at the Banquet held at Jungle Island.

Bishop Frade posed for a picture with us during a break from the business sessions.

Episcopal Diocese of SE Florida Diocese of SE Florida

The Diocese of Southeast Florida met at Trinity Cathedral, Maimi, for our annual convention. I was honored to be elected as a delegate to convention which was held on November 2nd and 3rd.

Top Picture: Bishop Leo Frade

Middle Picture:  St. Mark's Clergy:  Father Spencer Potter, Ass't Rector, Father Jim Cook, Rector,Pastor Lisa Barrowclough, St. Mark's School Chaplain, Deacon Bob Perrino.

The picture  at the bottom are Father Spencer, Ass't Rector, Father Jim Cook, Delegate Mandy Frantz and Jill Duke.

Integrity of the Palm Beaches Resolution

Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida will meet on Nov 2nd and 3rd at our cathedral in Miami.

I'm looking forward to attending as a delegate and feel honored that St. Mark's elected me as a delegate.

Our leaders of Integrity of the Palm Beaches which meets at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Lake Worth have put together a resolution to be presented at the convention.

The resolution is posted below.

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Pictures of St. Mark's Episcopal Church members who are members of Integrity of the Palm Beaches:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Resolution #7 Response to House of Bishops Meeting – September 2007 Whereas, we, the members of Integrity-Palm Beach, appreciate and wholeheartedly concur with the commitment of the House of Bishops in its recent meeting in New Orleans for "increasing the implementation of the listening process" with respect to matters relating to the full inclusion of gays and lesbians into the Anglican Communion, and with their "unequivocal and active commitment to the civil rights, safety, and dignity of gay and lesbian persons." Be it therefore resolved: That the Diocese of Southeast Florida demonstrate its commitment to implement the Bishops’ Statement that they "proclaim the Gospel that in Christ all God’s children, including gay and lesbian persons, are full and equal participants in the life of Christ’s Church" by: Urging the Archbishop of Canterbury to extend to the duly elected and consecrated Bishop of New Hampshire an invitation to full participation in the Lambeth Conference of 2008; Encouraging the Diocesan Deputies to the 2009 General Convention to work within the legislative process of General Convention to ensure the full and equal participation of gay and lesbian persons in all aspects of the Church’s ministry, including ordination as deacons, priests, and bishops; and Pursuing all means possible to create public liturgies to bless same-sex unions and establish the parameters within which such blessings may take place. Note: We thank Bishop Frade for his dedication to the inclusion process and look forward to his persistent support and leadership in seeking an end to the strife afflicting the Anglican Communion by continuing to proclaim loudly the Gospel message that all are equal in Christ. Submitted by Integrity-Palm Beach, the Rev. Paul A. Rasmus, and the Rev. B. Patricia Masterman

Houston Trip: St. Stephen's Episcopal Church

St. Stephen's Episcopal School: The Rev. Lisa Hunt:

While in Houston, I visited at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. I really liked it. I liked the diversity and warmth of the congregation. The Rev. Lisa Hunt is a wonderful rector.

I stayed for adult forum afterward. The discussion was led by a panel and dealt with how the panel members draw on their faith in their professional lives.

Pastor Hunt also talked about the Accountability Meeting (she is co-chair) with the Houston city council, the mayor and other community leaders that was held later that afternoon. This meeting the religious organizations the opportunity to hold the elected official accontable for their decisions and the resulting impact on the community. It afforded the opportunity to discuss what works, what doesn't work and what services are lacking and need improving.

I think this is a wonderful idea and plan to discuss this with religious organizations here in West Palm Beach and greater Palm Beach county.

When I went to church Sunday morning at St. Stephen's it was cloudy and dreary and I couldn't get good outside pictures of the church. So I returned on Monday afternoon and ran into Pastor Hunt in the parking lot who graciously let me take her picture.

Archbishop Rowan Williams: The Voice of the Ages

Father Paul Woodrum, Episcopal Priest and designer of magnificent vestments (Challwood Studios, Brooklyn, NYC), sent something this morning which was waiting for me in my email. I thought it was worth sharing. Thanks to Father Paul for giving me permission to share it. Gordon http://www.cafepress.com/fartotheleft

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1st Century: -- Certainly Gentiles have a place in the church as do all the baptized. The debate is currently about the appropriate limits of pastoral care and the place Gentiles may hold in the offices of the church. The question is how far the traditional theology of the church lets us move in that direction.

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7th Century: -- Certainly followers of Augustine have a place in the church as do all the baptized. The debate is currently about not only the date of Easter, but the appropriate limits of pastoral care and the place followers of Rome may hold in the offices of the church. The question is how far the Celtic tradition of the church lets us move in that direction.

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12th Century:-- Certainly Anglo-Saxon people have a place in the church as do all the baptized. The debate is currently about the appropriate limits of pastoral care and the place Anglo-Saxon people may hold in the offices of the church. The question is how far Norman church tradition lets us move in that direction.

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16th Century:-- Certainly recusants and dissenters have a place in the church as do all the baptized. The debate is currently about the appropriate limits of pastoral care and the place recusants and dissenters may hold in the offices of the church. The question is how far the Established Church and Crown lets us move in that direction.

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18th Century:-- Certainly colonials have a place in the church as do all the baptized. The debate is currently about the appropriate limits of pastoral care and the place colonials may hold in the offices of the church. The question is how far Parliament lets us move in that direction.

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19th Century:-- Certainly slaves throughout the Empire have a place in the church as do all the baptized. The debate is currently about the appropriate limits of pastoral care and the place slaves may hold in the offices of the church. The question is how far slave owners let us move in that direction.

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1900 - 1960's:--Certainly African Americans have a place in the church as do all the baptized. The debate is currently about the appropriate limits of pastoral care and the place African Americans may hold in the offices of the church. The question is how far white American tradition lets us move in that direction.

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1970's --Certainly women have a place in the church as do all the baptized. The debate is currently about the appropriate limits of pastoral care and the place women may hold in offices of the church. The question is how far the traditional patriarchial theology of the church lets us move in that direction.

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21st Century:--Certainly gay and lesbian people have a place in the church as do all the baptized. The debate is currently about the appropriate limits of pastoral care and the place gay and lesbian people may hold in the offices of the church. The question is how far the traditional theology of the church lets us move in that direction." (The Most Reverend and Right Honorable Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, 21 September AD 2007, New Orleans, LA, USA)

I liked this picture of Dr. Rowan Williams, Archibishop of Canterbury and the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, Rev. Dr Katharine Jefferts Schori.

BTW, I highly recommend our Presiding Bishop's book, A Wing and a Prayer. It's WONDERFUL! Through a series of stories, the complexities of TEC are easily explained. This book really explains what makes Anglicans tick, why we try so hard to remain together when other denominations would call it quits and split years ago. It explains why TEC faces the challenges it does and challenges Episcopalians to further explore the challenges in our faith on an individual and corporate manner.

Below is an AP story/update of the House of Bishops meeting in New Orleans

Gordon

http://www.cafepress.com/fartotheleft

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September 21, 2007

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- The archbishop of Canterbury indicated Friday that the Episcopal Church isn't on the brink of losing its place in the world Anglican fellowship, despite the uproar over Episcopal support for gay clergy.

Anglican leaders, called primates, had set a Sept. 30 deadline for the Americans to pledge unequivocally not to consecrate another gay bishop or approve an official prayer service for gay couples. Episcopal bishops have dedicated their meeting here to crafting a response. But after two days of private talks with Episcopal leaders, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the Anglican spiritual leader, said ''there is no ultimatum involved.'' The goal, he said, is ''compromise.'' ''It's been presented sadly as a set of demands,'' Williams said in a news conference before he left. ''I don't think that what was in the primates' minds. In fact, I'm sure it isn't.'' The Episcopal Church is the Anglican body in the United States and has a more liberal view of Scripture than most Anglicans overseas. Tensions over Bible interpretation erupted in 2003, when Episcopalians consecrated the first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire. Over the past four years, Anglican leaders have held emergency summits and private negotiations, trying to prevent differences over homosexuality from shattering the Anglican Communion. The most recent international conference was held in February in Tanzania, where Anglican leaders called for the Americans to roll back their support for gays. ''This has consequences for the full participation of the church in the life of the communion,'' the primates said, in the document they approved in Africa. Williams acknowledged that ''some primates would give a more robust interpretation of the demands, some less.'' But the archbishop said the Sept. 30 date was chosen simply to coincide with the meeting this month of the Episcopal House of Bishops. Bishop Stacy Sauls of Lexington, Ky., said that Williams and Australian Archbishop Phillip Aspinall, among the Anglican representatives who participated in the New Orleans meeting, said ''we had misread the communique'' and ''expressed a sense of regret'' over how it was written. Still, there were moments of tension in the closed-door discussions. Bishops have said that Williams pressed them to make some concessions for the sake of Anglican unity. As bishops took turns addressing Williams, Robinson said he found some of the archbishop's comments on the decision before the church ''dehumanizing'' to gays and lesbians. In an interview Friday, Robinson said he had told Williams respectfully ''what was on my mind and on my heart.'' ''I have always held the archbishop of Canterbury in high regard and I will continue to do so,'' Robinson said. Egypt Bishop Mouneer Anis told the bishops that their decision to consecrate Robinson created ''one of the most difficult disputes in the communion in our generation'' and that some ''think you are a different religion.'' ''If you appreciate being members of the global Anglican family, then you have to walk alongside the members of your family,'' Anis said, according to a text of his remarks that was circulated. Yet no one expects Episcopal leaders to completely reverse course. Theological conservatives are a minority in the denomination and some wish to stay in the church. Williams will work with Anglican leaders and with members of the Anglican Consultative Council, an international lay-clergy panel, in evaluating whatever statement Episcopal bishops make before they end their gathering Tuesday. Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan, head of a network of conservative Episcopal dioceses and parishes that are considering splitting from the Episcopal Church, said that Williams is ''de-emphasizing the ultimatum piece to try to get the best results'' from American leaders. ''A great number of the primates see that deadline very much as a real deadline,'' Duncan said, ''just as many of us had.'' -------- On the Net: Episcopal Church: http://www.ecusa.anglican.org/ Anglican Communion: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/