(AP) - The Episcopal Church has banned a California bishop from practicing his religious duties until March, after he led his diocese to secede from the national church.
The prohibition has little impact since Bishop John-David Schofield is no longer an Episcopalian.
His Fresno-based Diocese of San Joaquin, which serves about 8,500 parishioners in 47 congregations, became the first full diocese to break from the U.S. wing of the global Anglican Communion when it voted last month to secede and align with conservative Anglicans in South America.
The Episcopal Church has been in turmoil since consecrating an openly gay bishop in 2003.
Conservatives believe the Bible prohibits same-sex relationships, and the Fresno bishop counseled his flock that they risked moral decay by staying within the Episcopal Church.
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