The Episcopal Church’s Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has written her third letter to a conservative bishop who has moved his diocese to the canonical outskirts of the Episcopal Church.
Last December, Bishop Jon-David Schofield and his San Joaquin, Calif. diocese, voted to make some changes to their diocesan constitution, basically eliminating the sections that call for obeisance to the mother church aka the Episcopal Church in the U.S.A. The changes have to be approved a second time to go into effect. San Joaquin is meeting Dec. 7-8.
Earlier this year, KJS sent similar letters to Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh and Bishop Jack Iker of Forth Worth, Texas.
Jefferts Schori writes Schofield:
“You have been clear that you feel your views are dismissed or ignored within the Episcopal Church, yet you have ceased to participate in the councils of the Church. It is difficult to have dialogue with one who is absent,” Jefferts Schori wrote. “‘The Church will never change if dissenters withdraw from the table. There is an ancient and honored tradition of loyal opposition, and many would welcome your participation.”
Read the full letter and context from Episcopal News Service here.