Source: Diocese of Central Florida website
May 15, 2008
The Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop
The Episcopal Church Center
815 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Dear Bishop Jefferts Schori,
Grace and peace from our God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We, the Diocesan Board and Standing Committee and Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida, strongly protest what we believe to have been a failure to follow the Canons of our Episcopal Church in the recent depositions of Bishops Schofield and Cox.
Since deposition is the most severe sanction that can be applied against a bishop, it is critical that both the letter and the spirit of the Canons be followed. The Canons intentionally provide for an exceptionally high level of participation and agreement from the Bishops in order to impose a sentence of deposition. In this instance, it seems clear to us that the canonical safeguards in place were not followed.
We respectfully disagree with Mr. Beers assertion, which was reaffirmed by you in your April 30, 2008 letter to the House of Bishops, that the Canonical language of "the whole number of bishops entitled to vote" can be taken to mean only those in attendance at a particular meeting (Addendum 1). Indeed, that would leave no higher standard for deposition than for any matter of routine business. We agree with the analysis provided by Bishop and Standing Committee of the Diocese of South Carolina that the Canons plainly require a majority of all Bishops entitled to vote, not just those in attendance at a particular meeting. (Addendum 2).
We respectfully request that you and the House of Bishops revisit those decisions and make every effort to follow our Church Canons in this and all future House of Bishops decisions.
Finally, we believe that depositions are an unnecessary and unfortunate way to deal with disagreement, dissension, and even division within our Church. Those Bishops (or other clergy) who, for sake of conscience, can no longer minister as part of The Episcopal Church can be transferred at their request, or permitted to renounce their vows and join with other Anglican Provinces without vindictiveness or punitive measures. This would avoid the horrible implication that it is "abandonment of Communion" to join with another Anglican Province with whom we are in Communion, even if impaired. Further, it would be a gracious demonstration of the love of Christ to honor the service of these Bishops to our Church by wishing them Godspeed as they enter new phases of their life and ministry.
Our common desire is to conduct our common life in such a way as to build one another up in Christ and commend our Lord to all those who see us. We pray that gracious and life-giving strategies will be found as we move through this difficult season.
Yours in Christ,
John W. Howe, Bishop
Anthony P. Clark, President of the Standing Committee
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