Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin
Encyclopedia
The Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin is a diocese
of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America (ECUSA), located in central California
with its headquarters in Modesto
.
and the blessing of homosexual unions—to form the Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin
. Clergy and laity who disagreed with this decision and continue to reside within the diocesan boundaries are still considered to be the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin by The Episcopal Church.
Up until this vote, the diocese was one of the most conservative within the Episcopal Church. The diocese had been one of the last three that did not ordain women
(the others were the dioceses of Quincy
and Fort Worth). The pre-separation Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin had a membership of approximately 8,500.
On January 11, 2008, the Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori
, inhibited Bishop John-David Schofield from the exercise of the office of bishop. On March 1, 2008, Schofield tendered his resignation from the House of Bishops
of the Episcopal Church, although he continued to claim the title of bishop of the Diocese of San Joaquin. On March 12, 2008, he was deposed by action of the House of Bishops
.
A special diocesan convention met on March 29, 2008 in Lodi
, California, which "waived any potential defects in notice or other irregularities in the calling the Special Convention; allowed the Dispatch of Business Committee flexibility in presenting the convention agenda so that the chair could call special recesses as necessary, move items on the agenda for good cause, and expedite business; allowed Dispatch of Business to limit debate; as necessary"; and appointed Jerry Lamb
(retired bishop of Northern California
) as provisional bishop of a reorganized Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin. In the meantime Jefferts Schori has stated that "The Episcopal Church will continue in the Diocese of San Joaquin, albeit with new leadership." The Executive Council of the Episcopal Church as a whole has agreed to provide $700,000 to help defray the expenses associated with reorganization in San Joaquin and other dioceses facing similar challenges. At the regular diocesan convention in October 2008, delegates voted to create an "equality commission", charged with affirming marginalized communities within the diocese, including women, lesbians and gays, as well as several ethnic groups.
On May 22, 2009 Bishop Jerry A. Lamb
with the support of other Episcopal leaders ousted fifty-two clergy members (priests and deacons) for aligning with Bishop John-David Schofield. On May 29, 2009 Schofield responded with a statement calling the action "an unprecedented division between the ministries of The Episcopal Church and their brothers and sisters throughout the rest of the Anglican Communion." On July 21, 2009, the Superior Court of California ruled that the diocese cannot leave the Episcopal Church and that Bishop Lamb is the head of the diocese. Bishop Schofield was found not to be the head of the diocese and must relinquish all money, property and any assumed authority. However, on November 11, 2010 the lower court's ruling was overturned by the 5th appellate court who ruled that while TEC could call any body it wished an Episcopal diocese, it had no right to the property or finances of the San Joaquin diocese and that the lower court had no authority to say who could or could not be the bishop of the Anglican diocese, and so the local court erred when it involved itself in ecclesiastical issues by ordering that Lamb and not Schofield was the rightful bishop. On March 5, 2011, the Rt. Rev. Chester Lovelle Talton was formally seated at Holy Family Church in Fresno as the diocese's provisional bishop. Talton succeeded the Rt. Rev. Jerry A. Lamb, who had served as provisional bishop since Feb. 2008. Lamb had announced his intention to retire and called for the special meeting, in accordance with the diocesan constitution.
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America (ECUSA), located in central California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
with its headquarters in Modesto
Modesto, California
Modesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
.
Secession from Episcopal Church
On December 8, 2007, a majority of the delegates of diocesan convention voted to secede from the Episcopal Church—over issues including the ordination of womenOrdination of women
Ordination in general religious usage is the process by which a person is consecrated . The ordination of women is a regular practice among some major religious groups, as it was of several religions of antiquity...
and the blessing of homosexual unions—to form the Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin
Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin
This article is about the Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin in the Anglican Church in North America . For the diocese of the Episcopal Church, see Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin....
. Clergy and laity who disagreed with this decision and continue to reside within the diocesan boundaries are still considered to be the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin by The Episcopal Church.
Up until this vote, the diocese was one of the most conservative within the Episcopal Church. The diocese had been one of the last three that did not ordain women
Ordination of women
Ordination in general religious usage is the process by which a person is consecrated . The ordination of women is a regular practice among some major religious groups, as it was of several religions of antiquity...
(the others were the dioceses of Quincy
Episcopal Diocese of Quincy
The Diocese of Quincy is an Anglican diocese in western Illinois, United States. It is a founding member of the Anglican Church in North America...
and Fort Worth). The pre-separation Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin had a membership of approximately 8,500.
On January 11, 2008, the Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori
Katharine Jefferts Schori
Katharine Jefferts Schori is the 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church of the United States. Previously elected as the 9th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada, she is the first woman elected as a primate of the Anglican Communion...
, inhibited Bishop John-David Schofield from the exercise of the office of bishop. On March 1, 2008, Schofield tendered his resignation from the House of Bishops
House of Bishops
The House of Bishops is the third House in a General Synod of some Anglican churches and the second house in the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America.-Composition of Houses of Bishops:...
of the Episcopal Church, although he continued to claim the title of bishop of the Diocese of San Joaquin. On March 12, 2008, he was deposed by action of the House of Bishops
House of Bishops
The House of Bishops is the third House in a General Synod of some Anglican churches and the second house in the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America.-Composition of Houses of Bishops:...
.
A special diocesan convention met on March 29, 2008 in Lodi
Lodi, California
Lodi is a city located in , in the northern portion of California's Central Valley. The population was 62,134 at the 2010 census. The California Department of Finance's population estimate as of January 1, 2011 is 62,473....
, California, which "waived any potential defects in notice or other irregularities in the calling the Special Convention; allowed the Dispatch of Business Committee flexibility in presenting the convention agenda so that the chair could call special recesses as necessary, move items on the agenda for good cause, and expedite business; allowed Dispatch of Business to limit debate; as necessary"; and appointed Jerry Lamb
Jerry A. Lamb
Jerry Alban Lamb was the sixth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California.- Background :...
(retired bishop of Northern California
Episcopal Diocese of Northern California
The Episcopal Diocese of Northern California, created in 1910, is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America with jurisdiction over the northern part of California. It is in Province 8 and its cathedral, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, is in Sacramento, as are the diocesan...
) as provisional bishop of a reorganized Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin. In the meantime Jefferts Schori has stated that "The Episcopal Church will continue in the Diocese of San Joaquin, albeit with new leadership." The Executive Council of the Episcopal Church as a whole has agreed to provide $700,000 to help defray the expenses associated with reorganization in San Joaquin and other dioceses facing similar challenges. At the regular diocesan convention in October 2008, delegates voted to create an "equality commission", charged with affirming marginalized communities within the diocese, including women, lesbians and gays, as well as several ethnic groups.
On May 22, 2009 Bishop Jerry A. Lamb
Jerry A. Lamb
Jerry Alban Lamb was the sixth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California.- Background :...
with the support of other Episcopal leaders ousted fifty-two clergy members (priests and deacons) for aligning with Bishop John-David Schofield. On May 29, 2009 Schofield responded with a statement calling the action "an unprecedented division between the ministries of The Episcopal Church and their brothers and sisters throughout the rest of the Anglican Communion." On July 21, 2009, the Superior Court of California ruled that the diocese cannot leave the Episcopal Church and that Bishop Lamb is the head of the diocese. Bishop Schofield was found not to be the head of the diocese and must relinquish all money, property and any assumed authority. However, on November 11, 2010 the lower court's ruling was overturned by the 5th appellate court who ruled that while TEC could call any body it wished an Episcopal diocese, it had no right to the property or finances of the San Joaquin diocese and that the lower court had no authority to say who could or could not be the bishop of the Anglican diocese, and so the local court erred when it involved itself in ecclesiastical issues by ordering that Lamb and not Schofield was the rightful bishop. On March 5, 2011, the Rt. Rev. Chester Lovelle Talton was formally seated at Holy Family Church in Fresno as the diocese's provisional bishop. Talton succeeded the Rt. Rev. Jerry A. Lamb, who had served as provisional bishop since Feb. 2008. Lamb had announced his intention to retire and called for the special meeting, in accordance with the diocesan constitution.
External links
- Official website
- Remain Episcopal, a group within the diocese opposed to the separation.
- Appeal against TEC faction, the 5th Appellate District Court's ruling that invalidated the July 21, 2009 ruling in favor of Lamb's party.