Diocesan
Standing Committee and Diocesan Council refuse
to recognize deposition of two bishops
by
Robert Harwell
In a resolution authorized by the diocesan Standing Committee and endorsed
by the bishop, D. Bruce MacPherson, and Diocesan Council, the Diocese of Western
Louisiana has gone on record as not recognizing the depositions of (Episcopal)
Bishop John-David Schofield of San Joaquin and former Bishop Suffragan William
Cox of Maryland
(see story ) "as having had the requisite
canonical votes necessary for the deposition
of a bishop."
The resolution cited the facts contained in a letter of March 27, 2008 from the Standing Committee and Bishop Mark Lawrence of South Carolina to Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori as the basis of objections to the manner in which the depositions were carried out. The letter, which has been made public, cites canons applicable to the situation, and a narrative of how these requirements were not fulfilled. The March 17 vote by the House of Bishops to depose Schofield and Cox has drawn considerable criticism for the manner in which it was held.
The Western Louisiana Standing Committee motion says: "The Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church have been held up by some church leaders as part of the way forward for our broken church, in that these governing documents provide a procedural basis for our common life together. One of the main justifications for the actions taken at General Convention 2003 regarding the consents to the Bishop of New Hampshire was that the Diocese of New Hampshire had followed the canonical process in electing a bishop. We also note that the Diocese of South Carolina was held to an exacting standard in obtaining consents for the consecration of Bishop Mark Lawrence, while such exacting standards as to form of consents have not been applied to any other Episcopal election to our knowledge.
"However, such documents cannot provide the basis for our common life when they are ignored for expediency's sake. Selective enforcement of canonical requirements breeds mistrust in the church which can preclude reconciliation. Moreover, we find that the uncanonical actions taken in the matter of the depositions of Bishops Cox and Schofield erode confidence in the church and its canonical processes and delegitimize subsequent actions taken by the Presiding Bishop and others in attempting to reorganize the Diocese of San Joaquin.
"We call upon all in authority in the church, including ourselves, to follow the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church in decision making." The resolution was adopted unanimously by the Standing Committee on Monday, April 15, 2008.
On Tuesday morning, April 15, 2008 a motion to concur with the Standing Committee resolution was quickly made after the resolution was presented to the Diocesan Council by Standing Committee President the Very Rev'd William Bryant. After brief comments by Bryant and Bishop D. Bruce MacPherson, Diocesan Council concurred unanimously with the Standing Committee resolution.
As per instructions that were a part of the resolution, the motion was forwarded to Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, the Diocese of South Carolina, and to media organizations that cover The Episcopal Church.
Full text of the statement:
Statement of The Standing Committee of The Diocese of Western Louisiana
This 14th day of April, 2008.
We, the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Western Louisiana, make this
statement that we do not recognize the depositions of Bishops Schofield and
Cox as having had the requisite canonical votes necessary for the deposition
of a bishop. We would refer the church to the March 27, 2008 letter from the
Standing Committee and Bishop of South Carolina to the Presiding Bishop, which
we believe to be correct in its recitation of the applicable canons and their
history.
The Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church have been held up by some
church leaders as part of the way forward for our broken church, in that these
governing documents provide a procedural basis for our common life together.
One of the main justifications for the actions taken at General Convention
2003 regarding the consents to the Bishop of New Hampshire was that the Diocese
of New Hampshire had followed the canonical process in electing a bishop.
We also note that the Diocese of South Carolina was held to an exacting standard
in obtaining consents for the consecration of Bishop Mark Lawrence, while
such exacting standards as to form of consents have not been applied to any
other Episcopal election to our knowledge.
However, such documents cannot provide the basis for our common life when
they are ignored for expediency's sake. Selective enforcement of canonical
requirements breeds mistrust in the church which can preclude reconciliation.
Moreover, we find that the uncanonical actions taken in the matter of the
depositions of Bishops Cox and Schofield erode confidence in the church and
its canonical processes and delegitimize subsequent actions taken by the Presiding
Bishop and others in attempting to reorganize the Diocese of San Joaquin.
We call upon all in authority in the church, including ourselves, to follow
the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church in decision making.
Adopted unanimously April 14, 2008, with a motion that the same be sent to:
The Presiding Bishop
Episcopal Life Online
The Living Church
ALIVE! (Robert Harwell, Editor)
Standing Committee of the Diocese of South Carolina
—Robert Harwell is the communications officer of the Diocese of Western
Louisiana.
