Posted on 01/02/2007 7:02:03 PM PST by sionnsar
Quite a stretch on the lame duck Bishop’s part. Why couldn’t he just have denied the request? Oh, and he’s also vacated the Vestry and is taking over St. John’s parish. Looks much like Bishop Smith’s actions in Connecticut.
The release comes from here. Here is the text:
December 27, 2006
Last week the Office of the Bishop received a letter from David Miller, and an attorney representing David Miller and St. John’s Church in Petaluma, California.David Miller requested Letters Dimissory to the Diocese of Argentina in the Province of the Southern Cone, under the jurisdiction of The Most Reverend Gregory James Venable. I have declined to send Letters Dimissory for David Miller to the Diocese of Argentina. When, and if, David Miller physically moves to Argentina, the question of sending Letters Dimissory will be revisited.
I have chosen to view David Miller’s letter of December 17, 2006 as a request to renounce orders in this church. This action was laid before the clerical members of the Standing Committee on December 26 and 27. They concurred with my acceptance of David Miller’s Renunciation of Holy Orders. I pronounced and recorded this action in the presence of two priests of this Diocese on December 27, 2006. As of that date, David Miller is no longer a Priest-in-Good-Standing in this Diocese and is no longer the Rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Petaluma.
Also on December 27, 2006, I wrote to the Wardens and Vestry of St. John’s Episcopal Church that they appear to be in violation of Canon I.17.8, given their action to dissociate themselves and the Parish from the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Northern California. I therefore have declared the Offices of Wardens and the Vestry vacant.
A priest-in-charge, Wardens and Vestry may be appointed at a later date.
St. John’s Episcopal Church has been part of the Episcopal Church since its founding, first as a Parish in the Diocese of California and then as a Parish of the Diocese of Northern California when this diocese was formed. The Diocese of Northern California will resist any and all efforts to remove a parish from the jurisdiction of this diocese and the Bishop of Northern California.
The Rt. Rev. Jerry A. Lamb
Bishop of Northern California
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. Sigh. The Church is more than buildings and property.
Sounds like the local folks were trying to play nice. That can be foolish when dealing with supporters of heresy.
Lamb can play the snake all he wants, but there is court precedence in California that the property is the congregation's, NOT the denomination's. His tough language is very likely merely an attempt at intimidation--for if they don't back down, he likely will have to.
Typical Jerry.
This has no real weight as he is a real lame duck bishop, and the recent court rulings in California have been in favor of the parish leaving a diocese.
It depends if the congregation did its homework. There isn't enough here to tell. If they did, they probably shouldn't have asked for release, but should have just informed him that they had changed the sign.
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