Bishop Lamb: Unlikely to Depose San Joaquin Clergy Friday

August 14, 2008

Bishop Jerry Lamb, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin, said it is unlikely that there will be any action taken Aug. 15 at a meeting of the standing committee to depose clergy who failed to reply to a letter sent with an Aug. 5 deadline.

Bishop Lamb said it was within his canonical authority as the elected bishop of the Episcopal diocese to proceed to depose all clergy who did not respond affirmatively to the first of three options he outlined in a July 10 letter. But he said it was very unlikely that the standing committee would take any action toward that purpose at this time. He said a more likely prospect would be the issuance of another invitation leading to reconciliation.

Shortly before he left for England to attend the Lambeth Conference, Bishop Lamb sent a letter to all clergy canonically resident in the Diocese of San Joaquin prior to the vote last December to amend the diocesan constitution and disaffiliate from The Episcopal Church by the majority of clergy and lay delegates. The July letter stated, in part:

“We come to places in our lives when we are faced with a choice. It is time for you to make that decision as a member of the clergy of the Diocese of San Joaquin. Enclosed with this letter is a form with three choices, “(1) I want to remain a member of the clergy of the Episcopal Church and adhere to my ordination vows; (2) I no longer wish to exercise my ordained ministry in of the Episcopal Church, and desire to be removed therefrom for reasons not affecting my moral character; or (3) I do not consider myself a clergy member of the of the Episcopal Church, nor do I believe I am obligated to conform to the doctrine, discipline, or worship of the Episcopal Church.” the rest