Bishop Schofield Urges San Joaquin Delegates to Take Leap of Faith

http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2007/12/7/bishop-schofield-urges-san-joaquin-delegates-to-take-leap-of-faith

[The Living Church] 8 Dec 2007--Bishop John-David Schofield made an impassioned plea Dec. 7 for clergy and lay delegates to the annual convention in the Diocese of San Joaquin to approve the second and final reading of changes that would free the diocese to affiliate with the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone.

“Timing matters,” Bishop Schofield said. “God’s timing is essential. Delayed obedience in scripture is seen as disobedience when opportunities and blessings are lost.”

Legally there is nothing to prevent the Diocese of San Joaquin seeking primatial oversight outside The Episcopal Church, Bishop Schofield said. In all likelihood, General Convention will amend its constitution and canons to prevent dioceses from breaking union with it. Since changes to the San Joaquin diocesan constitution require approval by two consecutive diocesan conventions, there will probably not be time to try again before the window of opportunity is closed, he said.

“For those of us who are facing the unknown, provinces and property seem to be among the top concerns,” Bishop Schofield said. “As bishop, I would like to suggest to you that a ‘no’ vote at this convention will not provide the imagined protection needed to get on with our lives uninterrupted. Many do not realize that for 40 years, with the first 20 under Bishop Victor Rivera, and now nearly 20 years with me, as bishops we have been able to provide a buffer for our people from the innovations that abound in dioceses all around us. A quick trip north, south, east or west is all that it takes to wonder if we’re in the same church with those folks.”