Bishop Schofield recently survived an attempt to oust him by four fellow California bishops on grounds that he had "abandoned communion" but was exonerated by the Title IV Review Committee. He appears set for another fight with the national church.

In his letter Schofield said the actions of his diocese should be determined by the fact that
is that TEC (1) denies the unique divinity of Jesus Christ and (2) takes a position on human sexuality which undercuts marriage and is destructive to the family unit designed by God and revealed in Scripture. These are not positions and teachings which are merely "revisionist" or "liberal." These are positions of those who have abandoned the Christian faith, he wrote.

Jesus says in the Bible that "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) This is a cornerstone of the Christian faith and Anglican worship. It is what we believe in the Diocese of San Joaquin. It is our mission, and that of the Church, to bring all people into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Schofield ripped The Episcopal Church, saying GC 2006 refused to pass a resolution endorsing John 14:6. "By extension, TEC questions the validity and authority of Holy Scripture. According to the leadership of TEC, Jesus simply represents one of many ways of coming to a relationship with the Father. According to the leadership of TEC, the mission of the Church is "social justice" and "world peace" and not the Great Commission as set forth in Matthew 28. TEC's unrepentant adherence to these heresies has wrought havoc within the American Church and throughout the world-wide Communion. At least 22 of the 38 provinces of the Anglican Communion have declared impaired or broken communion with TEC. Vast numbers of faithful Anglicans have left and continue to leave TEC on a daily basis."

"Major parishes across the country have left and continue to leave in record numbers. (We are not immune in this Diocese having lost one parish already.) The statistics are staggering and clearly demonstrate that TEC is disintegrating. This is not surprising, given that TEC has chosen to walk apart from the Christian faith."

Raising the question, does this spiritual crisis really affect us, Schofield responded; "YES. Heresy is insidious by nature and, over time, the victim becomes desensitized to its effects. There are four recognizable stages from prolonged exposure. Initially, there is condemnation of the heresy; then it is tolerated; then it is accepted; and, finally, it is practiced. TEC is currently preaching and practicing heresy and the majority of TEC's leadership will not repent as evidenced by, among other things, TEC's refusal to comply with the Windsor Report. Continuing in communion with TEC poses a clear and present danger to the spiritual health of the Diocese and its parishioners. TEC's continued membership in the Anglican Communion is tenuous and excommunication or isolation is a reality which, in turn, threatens the Diocese's place in the Anglican Communion. We must remember, we are Anglicans first and Episcopalians second."

Schofield said that when faced with unrepentant and public false teaching, Scripture is very, very clear. "Christians are called to withdraw from Eucharistic fellowship. There are many biblical references directly on point, among them: "If anyone comes to you bringing a different doctrine, you must not receive him in your house or even give him a greeting. To greet him would make you a partner in his wicked work." (I1 John, 10-1 1. Also Mt. 8: 17, I Cor. 5:11-13, Gal. 1:8, 2 Thess. 3:6, Rev. 2:20; BCP, p. 409.)"

He then said that a proposed constitutional amendment would reaffirm the diocese' commitment to the historic Anglican Faith and its membership in the Anglican Communion and its relationship with the Archbishop of Canterbury without having any direct ties to The Episcopal Church. "We will continue to worship in the historic Anglican tradition as we have for the past 100 years and without fear that the actions of TEC will disenfranchise us from the rest of the Communion."

Schofield said there would no obvious changes on the surface. "You will see no change in the worship services; they will follow the historic Anglican Faith as they always have. The prayer book and hymnals will remain the same. You will worship and attend services in the same buildings. Your clergy will remain the same. Best of all, Holy Scripture will continue to be our ultimate authority. What will change? The flag; the word "Episcopal" will most likely be replaced with the word "Anglican;" Our delegates and clergy will not attend the TEC General Convention."

Schofield said that as a result of disaffiliation, the diocese could experience rapid growth if the amendment passes. "There are many large parishes in southern California which have seceded from TEC and have expressed interest in affiliating with an Anglican diocese headed by an American bishop. Initial discussions with a number of priests and parishes indicate a desire to find a way to become part of an orthodox diocese in Communion with the rest of the Anglican world and with the Archbishop of Canterbury."

"We have a commitment from the Southern Cone (Archbishop Greg Venables) that the bishops of his dioceses are open to our joining their Province. Second, the Global South, representing 80 percent of the Anglican Communion, issued a public statement known as "The Kigali Communique" in which it pledged to "take initial steps toward the formation of what will be recognized as a separate ecclesiastical structure of the Anglican Communion in the USA."

The Diocese could be the vanguard of a new 39th Anglican Province in North America, he said.

Raising the issue of risks by his diocese' actions, Schofield said. "The TEC is highly litigious and will likely file lawsuits in the California state courts seeking to take our property away. Our lawyers tell us we can successfully defend ourselves but there are risks inherent in any litigation. There will be significant costs of defending such lawsuits. However, property considerations are, and should be, secondary to our spiritual salvation and well being. Ours is a spiritual decision which should not be driven by property issues. We can seek guidance from the parable of the rich young man in Matthew 19:16-22."

Schofield said there would also be considerable risk to his clergy, but that they would be free to leave with their property if they so chose. "I have engaged the rectors of these churches and told them they can have another bishop. I will let priests go with their property, endowment and the people are free to go," he told an Anglican television broadcast.

He re-echoed that those with pensions of five years or more have vested (or protected) insurance against losing anything that is already due to them. "Those who have been with the Pension Plan of the Church fewer than five years may be surprised to learn that other financial institutions are prepared to offer similar plans with a vesting taking place from the first day of participation. Clergy already assured of pensions that could be capped at the present level would also be able to add to their pensions in a new plan. Equally, medical insurance as well as dental plans will be made available to clergy and lay employees."

END