TEC pursues removal of San Joaquin priests, deacons

Steps are under way to take 36 priests and 16 deacons off the books of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin over charges they abandoned the U.S. Episcopal Church. But the local breakaway Anglican diocese said the Episcopal body doesn't have the authority.

"We don't recognize their authority over us," said the Rev. Van McCalister, spokesman for the Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin, based in Fresno.

McCalister said Tuesday the Episcopal diocese's action doesn't affect the abilities of the priests and deacons to do their jobs because the Anglican Communion recognizes them as fully ordained.
The U.S. Episcopal Church and Anglican Bishop John-David Schofield have been at odds since December; that is when Schofield led a secession over differences with the national body's approval of same-sex blessings, ordination of a gay bishop, the role of women in the church and how to interpret the Bible over such issues.

Schofield leads the Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin, which is affiliated with the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone, based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Read more
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