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DIOCESE OF SAN JOAQUIN RESPONDS TO HOB
"They Will Stay On The Exact Same Course"
September 26, 2007
By John-David Schofield
What did the House of Bishops accomplish? The clear message of the September 25th House of Bishops (HOB) statement is that they are determined to stay on the exact same course that they have been on all along.
Although promising "not to authorize public rites for the blessing of same-sex unions" sounds like a prohibition, in reality it is a "don't ask; don't tell" policy in practice. This has been demonstrated by Bishop Bruno's recent comments that he has not authorized such blessings, while priests in the Diocese of Los Angeles do so without hesitation. If this were a prohibition, priests who conduct such blessings would be inhibited by Bishop Bruno.
To date, this has not happened. Not authorizing "a public rite" means that The Episcopal Church (TEC) will not authorize and publish an official prayer book service for same-sex unions. In other words, clergy in dioceses who wish to perform same-sex unions may continue to do so, so long as it is not an official public rite.
This is neither prohibition nor restraint. It is simply turning a blind eye. Likewise, the promise to "exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church" is a proclamation of intent that falls far short of repentance, and is no guarantee of cessation. At best this is a pause, not a change in direction.
Were this a change in direction, a lesbian candidate for the Diocese of Chicago would be removed from the list. What did the HOB statement say about ordaining practicing homosexuals to other clerical orders? Nothing. The Presiding Bishop has finally authorized episcopal visitors for dissenting parishes.
However, many, if not most, of the requesting parishes are no longer members of TEC because they have already transferred their canonical residence to other Anglican primates. Although the Presiding Bishop accepted eight volunteers from the HOB, she has offered no plan. This is too little, too late.
The Executive Counsel of TEC deplored "incursions into our jurisdictions by uninvited bishops" while at the same time they have unabashedly supported incursions into autonomous dioceses by bringing lawsuits against parishes, priests and parishioners who have faithfully used their hard-earned tithes to build their own churches and ministries in their local communities.
The HOB calls for an "immediate end" to incursions from other bishops; are they willing to end the oppressive lawsuits that have necessitated these so-called "incursions"? Additionally, the HOB statement is an open rejection of the primates' request that these lawsuits come to an end.
---The Rt. Rev. John-David Schofield is Bishop of the Diocese of San Joaquin
