Bishop Lamb Again Writes Disaffiliated Clergy

News Update from The Living Church:

Posted on: January 23, 2009

The recent California Supreme Court decision in favor of The Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Los Angeles is “extremely helpful to the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin’s position in its own litigation, according to Michael Glass, chancellor for the reorganized diocese.

“The court’s decision in this case is extremely helpful to the Diocese of San Joaquin’s position in the present litigation with respect to [Bishop John-David Schofield],” Mr. Glass said. “It also clarifies beyond a doubt the rights of the diocese regarding parish and mission properties occupied by groups that have disaffiliated from The Episcopal Church.”

The diocese voted in December 2007 to disaffiliate from The Episcopal Church and realign with the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone. Bishop Schofield was subsequently deposed from the ordained ministry of The Episcopal Church for abandonment of communion. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori withdrew her recognition of the majority of members elected to the diocesan standing committee and in March 2008 convened a reorganizing convention at which the Rt. Rev. Jerry A. Lamb was received as provisional Bishop of the diocese.

In light of the California court’s ruling, Bishop Lamb sent letters Jan. 14 seeking dialogue with those who have disaffiliated. One letter was sent to clergy who have accepted canonical licenses issued by the Southern Cone; the second was sent to church-goers.

“There has been enough pain and suffering on all sides of the issue of separation from The Episcopal Church,” Bishop Lamb wrote to clergy. “It is time for us to speak to one another face to face about returning to the fold of The Episcopal Church or setting forth a plan for gracious leave-taking.”

Shortly before the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin’s annual convention last October, Bishop Lamb inhibited all of the San Joaquin clergy who accepted canonical licenses from the Church of the Southern Cone. The inhibitions will automatically become depositions from the ordained ministry of The Episcopal Church in April if the inhibited clergy take no further action.

“This is another effort on the part of the Episcopal diocese to reconcile,” Bishop Lamb told The Living Church. “Given what we consider [the court’s] very clear statement in our favor, I wanted to make another overture. I’m inviting any forms of conversations [on these two options]. We would have to see what people would want.”

Bishop Lamb wrote three letters to the Southern Cone clergy before he issued his letter of inhibition. He said no one has responded to any of the letters, including the most recent one.

Steve Waring