The Cost of Schism

As I noted a few weeks back, there is a schism happening in the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin. I hesistate to report on this during Christmastide, but few of the major sites have picked this up yet: Events have been unfolding in San Joaquin and in response, and the most recent, terrible occurrences have taken place at St. Nicholas Mission in that diocese. Bishop John-David Schofield, who is not now a bishop of the Episcopal Church, tried to make a pastoral visit to the mission last Sunday, Advent IV. What happened there is recorded by eyewitnesses over at Fr. Jakes. I urge you to take the time to read all the accounts and the comments. They are eye-opening and heart-rending.

Almighty Father, whose blessed Son before his passion prayed for his disciples that they might be one, as you and he are one: Grant that your Church, being bound together in love and obedience to you, may be united in one body by the one Spirit, that the world may believe in him whom you have sent, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in
the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (For the Unity of the Church, BCP p. 255)

RFSJ