FRESNO, CA: Bishop John-David Schofield Announces Retirement
Does not call for Coadjutor at this time

By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
10/24/2009

The Rt. Rev. John‐David M. Schofield, Bishop of the Diocese of San Joaquin (Anglican) announced that he plans to retire in October of 2011. He made the announcement at the 50th Anniversary Annual Convention taking place at St. James' Cathedral, which is celebrating its 130th Anniversary.

The 2009 Convention welcomed four new Churches into full membership, including the first congregation from Nevada. The expansion of the oversight under Bishop Schofield's jurisdiction is expected to continue as numerous other local Anglican Churches continue to petition the Diocese to accept them as full member congregations.

The four congregations welcomed this year are Jesus the Good Shepherd Anglican Church, Henderson, Nevada; St. Andrew's in the Desert Anglican Church, in Lancaster, California; St. David's Anglican Church, in San Rafael, and a Spanish speaking congregation in Seaside, California, Santa Maria de Juquila.

Six other congregations in California, and an additional number in surrounding States, are in the process of aligning themselves to become part of the Diocese. Most of them are expected to come into union with the Convention at this time next year, said The Rev. Canon Bill Gandenberger, Canon to the Ordinary Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin.

Guest preacher the Rev. Eric Dudley, Rector of St. Peter's Anglican Church in Tallahassee, Florida challenged the Convention delegates and clergy to maintain their missionary focus and to trust that God is with them, empowering their missionary focus within the Diocese, the new Province, and what he called, "this new Anglicanism."

The theme for the convention was "God is With Us, We Are Not Alone". Bishop Schofield, now in the twenty‐second year of his consecration, is recognized around the world as a dynamic and courageous Christian leader, having led the Diocese of San Joaquin to be a founding Diocese of the new Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) after becoming the first entire diocese to depart the Episcopal Church (TEC) in 2007.

The Diocese of San Joaquin has functioned for the past eighteen months without access to its financial reserves which continue to be frozen by the courts after initial litigation from the Episcopal Church. "God does, indeed, appear to be with the Diocese and is providing for their needs," said Bishop Schofield.

"It is extremely rare that an appeals court responds to the appealing party in the midst of a suit, however they have done so. This bodes well for the Diocese, but extends the legal proceedings and the associated litigation expense."

The current budget and the budget for 2010 make no provision for legal expenses that continue to mount. Bishop Schofield appealed to the delegates to return to their congregations and to "stir them up" to contribute to the legal defense of their own diocese. Meanwhile the appeals courts have demanded that the Episcopal Church provide sufficient evidence as to why the appellate justices should not reverse the initial ruling against the Anglican Diocese.

The Bishop and Diocese continue to trust that God will provide. Despite the obstacles of the current economy and continued litigation, the Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin continues to expand its vision, "Bringing All to and ever expanding knowledge and joy of the Lord Jesus Christ."

The diocese is a member of The Anglican Church in North America which is now made up of dioceses across the U.S. and Canada under the spiritual leadership of Archbishop Robert W. Duncan, who remains the Bishop of Pittsburgh, PA.

END