San Joaquin invited to join Province of Southern Cone

This news release appeared on the Diocese of San Joaquin's website:

"The Diocese of San Joaquin today announced that the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone of South America has extended an invitation to offer the Diocese membership on an emergency and pastoral basis.

The announcement comes three weeks before the Diocese is scheduled hear the second and final reading of Constitutional changes first adopted on December 2, 2006. Should the second reading of the Constitutional changes be approved at the Diocesan Convention on December 8, 2007, the Diocese is free to accept the invitation to align with the Province of the Southern Cone and remain a diocese with full membership within the Anglican Communion.

According to the Rt. Rev. John-David M. Schofield, Bishop of the Diocese of San Joaquin, ‘We welcome the invitation extended by the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone. The invitation assures the Diocese’s place in the Anglican Communion and full communion with the See of Canterbury.’"

The pastoral letter says that this emergency provision will remain in place

Until the Episcopal Church:
  • repents and complies with the requests of the Windsor Report;
  • respects the conscience of the parishes and dioceses which wish to adhere to the theological, moral and pastoral norms of the Anglican Communion, once held also by the Episcopal Church;
  • and its Presiding Bishop and officers cease to pursue and intimidate these dioceses and parishes by means of lawsuits, confiscations and depositions;

Or

Until adequate, effective and acceptable alternative primatial and episcopal oversight be offered as recommended by the Primates in Dar Es Salaam;

Or

Until the Archbishop of Canterbury takes clear action and responds effectively to the legitimate and urgent concerns of the “alienated” parishes and dioceses of The Episcopal Church offering pastoral leadership to protect them;

Read the full text and the Pastoral letter here.

Posted by Nicholas Knisely on November 16, 2007 3:13 PM | |
Comments (2)

Bishop Schofield writes: We welcome the invitation extended by the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone. The invitation assures the Diocese’s place in the Anglican Communion and full communion with the See of Canterbury.’"

But is that true? The Southern Cone annexed the Diocese of Recife (Brazil) in this way, and a new diocese was begun in its place. The "diocese" that joined the Southern Cone is no longer a part of the Anglican Communion. Nor is it in Communion with the See of Canterbury.

In the not too distant future, Archbishop Gregory Venables is going to retire and return to England. I wonder who will be selected to clean up this mess.

Posted by Jim Naughton [TypeKey Profile Page] | November 16, 2007 3:36 PM

I'm most struck by what seems to me to be the logical dissonance of claiming that this move by San Joaquin is being done because it allows the diocese to remain in full communion with Canterbury - and then to later seem to criticize Canterbury for lack of "clear" action.

If one of the issues that has led to the present emergency state is poor leadership by Canterbury, then why would communion with Canterbury be a thing to be sought?

Posted by Nicholas Knisely [TypeKey Profile Page] | November 16, 2007 3:59 PM

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