There is a report that the House of Bishops may have acted in violation of the Episcopal Church canons when announcing the result of their vote to depose Bishops Schofield and Cox. The concerns focus on whether or not there was a quorum of eligible bishops present needed to take such action, and on whether or not the canonical procedure was followed in Bishop Cox’s case.
Two bishops have posted their reflections on the House of Bishops most recent meeting in Texas. Bishop Chris Epting writes of the reaction of the House to the news that Bishop Gene Robinson would not be invited to attend the Lambeth Conference. Bishop Kirk Smith writes additionally of the action to depose two other bishops during the meeting.
…Rebecca Trounson’s article in The Los Angeles Times is probably the one to read. She notes that while an overwhelming majority of delegates to San Joaquin’s convention in December approved the break with the Episcopal Church, at least 2,300 of an estimated 8,800 parishioners in the diocese have chosen to remain with the national church.
Episcopal Life is reporting that Bishop Jerry A. Lamb, retired bishop of Northern California and most recently interim bishop of Nevada, has been recommended by
The recurrent topic is the consent of the House of Bishops to the deposition of John-David Schofield for abandonment of communion.
The actions covered a resolution on waterboarding, a statement on the depositions of Schofield and Cox, and a statement on the Lambeth Conference.
The House of Bishops voted March 12 to consent to the deposition from the ordained ministry of the Rt. Rev. John-David Schofield, bishop of the Diocese of San Joaquin, and the Rt. Rev. William Jackson Cox, bishop suffragan of the Diocese of Maryland, resigned.
The House of Bishops report of their Monday session includes a report from Bishops Working for a Just World with information from the Office of Governmental Relations, a report from the Title IV working group which deals with disciplinary matters and working for a safe church, a report of the steering committee dealing with seminaries and theological education, Healthcare coverage by Church Pension Group, and the Windsor study group.
The House of Bishops was informed March 10 that full invitation is “not possible” from the Archbishop of Canterbury to include Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire as a participant in this summer’s Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops. Robinson, addressing the House, urged the other bishops of the Episcopal Church to participate fully in the conference, and thanked all who are willing to “stay at the table.”
Living Church: A single candidate chosen to be the provisional Bishop of San Joaquin will participate in a two-day walkabout visitation to the diocese immediately