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Episcopal official listens to concerns of Lodians
News-Sentinel Staff Writer
An Episcopal official appointed to reassure parishioners in Lodi and other communities that all is well in the San Joaquin Diocese talked to 25 leaders from St. John's Episcopal Church on Monday about what could be a tumultuous reorganization of the diocese.
The Rev. Canon Bob Moore, a retired priest from Olympia, Wash., began a diocese-wide "listening tour" with a meeting in Lodi. He went to San Andreas later on Monday and will spend the week talking to parishioners south to Bakersfield who want to remain within the American Episcopal Church.
The diocese is in a major state of transition, now that the diocese has chosen to part ways with the Episcopal Church USA over gay rights and women's issues.
The diocese voted in December to leave Episcopal Church USA over the church's appointment of V. Eugene Robinson, an openly gay priest, as bishop of the New Hampshire Diocese in 2003. San Joaquin Bishop John-David Schofield maintains that homosexuality is a sin and, therefore, ordaining a gay man a priest or appointing one as bishop violates scripture.
St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Galt is not affected by the turmoil. Galt is in the Sacramento Diocese, which hasn't considered leaving the Episcopal Church.
St. John's parishioners maintain that they want to remain in Episcopal Church USA rather than follow most of the San Joaquin Diocese's parishes to the conservative Southern Cone of the Anglican Communion, based in South America. Episcopal Church USA is also a branch of the Anglican Communion, which is derived from the Church of England.
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, who holds the top position in Episcopal Church USA, took the first step this month in deposing Schofield as bishop by suspending him from his priestly duties. However, he is allowed to continue with administrative functions. The Episcopal House of Bishops will vote on whether to completely depose Schofield the week of March 7.
Ordained: 1979.
Priest: Shared priesthood with wife Bavi E. Rivera in the small Marin County community of Ross; co-rector with wife in Salinas; worked for the El Camino Real Diocese in Monterey; priest in Lafayette; interim priest in Richmond.
Previous career: Aerospcace industry at Lockheed in Sunnyvale.
Retired: May 2004, when his wife was named co-bishop for diocese in Olympia, Wash.
Source: The Rev. Canon Bob Moore
Dec. 8, 2007: Convention delegates vote to leave Episcopal Church USA, and joins the Southern Cone of the more conservative Southern Cone of South America. Both organizations are affiliated with the Anglican church.
Jan. 2, 2008: Thirty-four bishops throughout the world sign a statement supporting conservative San Joaquin Diocese Bishop John-David Schofield and his efforts to leave Episcopal Church USA.
Jan. 11, 2008: Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori of Episcopal Church USA rules that Schofield has abandoned his position as San Joaquin Diocese bishop and orders him to cease ordaining priests.
Jan. 26, 2008: Remain Episcopal, a group of parishioners who want to remain in the American Episcopal Church, will gather for Holy Eucharist, music and discussion of organizational and legal issues concerning the diocese.
March 13, 2008: House of Bishops meeting will take place in Texas, when a vote will be taken on whether to declare the bishop's seat vacant in the San Joaquin Diocese. Then remaining diocese members would have a new convention and elect a replacement standing committee. An assisting bishop would be appointed until the diocese selects a new bishop.
Source: Episcopal Church USA.
The gathering will feature a Holy Eucharist, music and a discussion of political issues within the diocese. Participants will include:
• The Rev. Canon Bob Moore, appointed by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori to provide a "pastoral presence" for parishioners who want to remain in the American Episcopal Church.
• Bonnie Anderson, president of the House of Deputies, a group of four priests or deacons and four lay people from each diocese. Her function is similar to that of the speaker of the house in Congress.
• Michael O. Glass, a San Rafael lawyer and Episcopalian who specializes in canon and real estate law. He has been retained by St. John's.
• Charles Ramsden and Holly McAlpen, Church Insurance Agency Corp. Ramsden was a priest for 30 years, and McAlpen was a missionary or 20 years with the Diocese of California, based in the Bay Area.
Source: Remain Episcopal.
Meanwhile, St. John's parishioners raised some major issues in their meeting Monday with Moore. One is how the transition of power would affect the parish's ability to select a new priest, Moore said. Father Rick Matters left St. John's in May to take over a church in Carmel. Father Basil Parker-Matthews is filling in on an interim basis until a new priest is hired.
Another issue, Moore said, is the question of who owns the St. John's building and the land it sits on — the parish, the diocese or the Southern Cone of the Anglican Church.
The third major topic was how parishioners can reach out to people who were hurt by the diocese seceding from Episcopal Church USA, Moore said.
Moore couldn't offer an answer to the property rights question since he isn't a lawyer, but he said that St. John's search for a new priest won't be a problem because it's a year and a half to two-year process to hire a new priest. By then, Moore said, the transition issues should be clear.
However, St. John's has lost applicants from priests who won't consider a position in Lodi because of the inner turmoil within the diocese, said Andee Zetterbaum, an active St. John's parishioner.
"I thought it was very comforting," said Deb Shook, vestry clerk at St. John's. "It brought us a better understanding of what's going on. We're not fearful."
Patsy Gorczyca, a St. John's parishioner, noted how St. John's is a church where people of dissenting opinions on theology and social issues can worship together.
"We love one another. We respect each other," Gorczyca said. "We love each other as Jesus would have us love one another."
Moore learned from his meeting with parishioners on Monday that St. John's members respect one another's differences.
"That is the Episcopal church that I know," Moore said. "There is no demand that you believe one way or the other."
Moore's tour will conclude on Friday. The following day, representatives of parishes that want to remain in Episcopal Church USA will gather for a day-long session in Hanford to celebrate a Eucharist and discuss legal issues.
For more information, visit http://sanjoaquin.anglican.org and http://www.remainepiscopal.org.
Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback
Lodian wrote on Feb 1, 2008 12:04 PM:
WY wrote on Jan 31, 2008 10:28 PM:
sam wrote on Jan 31, 2008 8:56 AM:
Lodian wrote on Jan 31, 2008 8:52 AM:
Lodian wrote on Jan 31, 2008 8:51 AM:
WY wrote on Jan 31, 2008 8:23 AM:
real facts wrote on Jan 30, 2008 7:18 PM:
You know the Lord God rode a donkey. Coming in and going out. In the womb of Mary coming in, and riding into town the last days. Isn't that how that went"?).
ye DID ride into jerusalem on a donkey. the Old Testament predicted that the messiah would ride into jerusalem on a donkey, and that would be one way that the people of the culture of that time, could tell it WAS the messiah.
that prophecy was fullfilled on the EXACT DAY it was predicted, like 500 years later. pretty amazing stuff "
real facts wrote on Jan 30, 2008 7:09 PM:
" Real facts... are you lil "to"? breathe in").
WY, i am not sure what you mean. can you please be more specific? "
WY wrote on Jan 30, 2008 2:21 PM:
WY wrote on Jan 30, 2008 2:12 PM:
WY wrote on Jan 30, 2008 2:10 PM:
real facts wrote on Jan 30, 2008 2:07 PM:
given the explanation, give your reasoning on how every other sexual deviancy (according to leviticus) is still in "play", except for homosexual sex. how did that one get dropped off the "no no list"? "
WY wrote on Jan 30, 2008 2:06 PM:
sam wrote on Jan 30, 2008 10:28 AM:
sam wrote on Jan 30, 2008 10:25 AM:
Lodian wrote on Jan 30, 2008 10:08 AM:
sam wrote on Jan 30, 2008 9:47 AM:
sam wrote on Jan 30, 2008 9:43 AM:
sam wrote on Jan 30, 2008 9:41 AM:
sam wrote on Jan 30, 2008 9:35 AM:
Lodian wrote on Jan 30, 2008 9:12 AM:
Lodian wrote on Jan 30, 2008 9:09 AM:
Lodian wrote on Jan 30, 2008 9:06 AM:
WY wrote on Jan 30, 2008 8:41 AM:
real facts wrote on Jan 30, 2008 12:05 AM:
if ONE person can provide ONE scripture in the entirety of the bible, you can effectively wipe the overwhelming biblical evidence against homosexual sex of any kind, clear off the validation chart.
just one that shows it's ok, stops that arguement dead in it's tracks.
one thing is for sure about holding a position based around God, and not someones "opinion", NO ONE can conjure up an opinion based on conjecture, thier HAS to be evidence to support it, otherwise you have no right to complain that they are 1,000's of relgions, but who is right?
evidence reveals what IS right "
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 11:58 PM:
then a person is going to have to explain the story in the 19th chapter of the book of judges that condemns a homosexual act
leviticus was written around 1400 b.c.
judges was written around 1000 b.c
some 400 years AFTER the levitical laws
1st corinthians chapter 6 was written around a.d. 56 "
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 11:27 PM:
the definition of biblical sexual immorality is ANY sexual act, done outside the marital committment between a man and a woman.
the whole chapter of leviticus 18 contains ALL the sexual deviancy, EXCEPT marital sex between a male and female.
the consistent verbage of that truth is found start to finish, cover to cover.
Christ echoed leviticus, and so did paul
not one inference APPROVING homosexual sex "
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 11:18 PM:
no one stands before God on his day, on thier own definition of righteousness.
you will either have adjusted to HIS definition of it, or sought to distance yourself FROM it. on that day, there is no middle ground, especially considering NO ONE is without excuse.."knowledge wise".
Jesus Christ defined righteousness once and for all. his words on anything ARE authority "
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 11:10 PM:
today is the day. NO ONE can use that excuse again, that the "new covenant" excluded homosexual sex from Gods moral lawbook.
homosexual sex is condemned in every passage that references it.
it never high fives it "
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 10:59 PM:
Jesus Christ is the ONLY person who could fulfill that law, via his perfect sacrifice. he did, and rendered it ineffective.
Jesus Christ mentioned that moral law is still law "
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 10:53 PM:
moral laws NEVER changed. "
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 10:47 PM:
I was just curious as to how one who does follow the OT laws picks and choses which laws are relevant").
thats simple. you follow the laws to thier conclusion that God demonstrated are those laws which CONTINUE to fulfill his design for man. ceremonial laws are just that, "ceremonial". those laws had one purpose...for God to use them against man to make him guilty of his own self righteousness. they served thier purpose then, they have NO bearing now.
moral laws are something that never changed in Gods plan for man "
sam wrote on Jan 29, 2008 10:45 PM:
sam wrote on Jan 29, 2008 10:41 PM:
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 10:40 PM:
don't know yet who i will root for. my natural inclination always makes me gravitate toward the underdog (in some people minds), the giants.
but the idea of the perfect season is a compelling sports story and acheivement "
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 10:29 PM:
" My questions to you were very sincere. I do NOT follow the OT laws. I was just curious as to how one who does follow the OT laws picks and choses which laws are relevant").
yes your questions to me WHERE sincere. for awhile, your answers were not. it took several posts to drag it to the surface.
the thing is...NO ONE..."picks and chooses" ANYTHING about Gods moral laws. they are clear. your flawed position is that somehow homosexual sex became ok. thats why romans indicts that position, because it's "new covenant/testament" verified "
WY wrote on Jan 29, 2008 10:19 PM:
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 10:19 PM:
well, lie #2. it's what you do
funny YOU mention ivan dixon, both in the lack of retraction about how you lied about me "not" answering ivan dixon in this blog. plus for your bonus lying tongue points you CONVEIGHNETLY forgot to mention i challenged ivan dixon in the other blog about his question to me, and he never showed his face again.
your a liar. and you bad at it "
Billy Rubin wrote on Jan 29, 2008 5:11 PM:
richardh wrote on Jan 29, 2008 2:04 PM:
OK, let's tone it down here. No one at the LNS wants to cull through 500 comments and be the arbiter of acceptable expression. We also don't want to unilaterally block access by those who have become overzealous, though that is an option. So please keep any further comments here short and respectful.
Thank you. "
WY wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:58 PM:
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:53 PM:
" Wah, Wah, Wah, RF sounds like Charlie Browns Freaking teacher...").
content with sitting back and watching other people do your dirty work?
how about you show you can defend against the claims of Gods authority over man, instead of hurling insults and then hiding around the corner? "
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:49 PM:
you know those scriptures outline homosexual sex. you made it "fit" your agenda.
more on this later, but God doesn't "design" sin, and then condemn someone because of it. people aren't born gay, just like people aren't born adulterer's or people who are programmed to sexually abuse children.
you ignored what romans said, and made it fit your liberal mindset "
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:43 PM:
your the poster child for lying-tongue-because-he-can't-defend-his-position "SINdrome".
"never answered anyones questions" huh dan? thats another lie
maybe you can explain the post to your buddy in crime, ivan dixon?
your a patho-UN-logical liar about me in here as well "
Billy Rubin wrote on Jan 29, 2008 12:40 PM:
Lodian wrote on Jan 29, 2008 12:38 PM:
Lodian wrote on Jan 29, 2008 12:25 PM:
WY wrote on Jan 29, 2008 12:12 PM:
sam wrote on Jan 29, 2008 10:30 AM:
sam wrote on Jan 29, 2008 10:30 AM:
A homosexual loving another homosexual is not wrong (MY BELIEF). Enough said ! "
sam wrote on Jan 29, 2008 10:30 AM:
I have a dear friend who at birth was originally believed to me a boy. It wasn't long before Stephen was renamed Stephanie. She was not given a choice as she was an infant when her parents and doctors made the decision for her. I understand now doctors wait until until the child is old enough to make the decision. She is a wonderful person. "
sam wrote on Jan 29, 2008 10:29 AM:
Audi 5000 wrote on Jan 29, 2008 8:35 AM:
Robb wrote on Jan 29, 2008 6:45 AM:
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 2:30 AM:
"real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 12:53 AM: how about instead of not answering my challenge, you actually DO PROVE i hate people.
you can worry about collecting it later.
you don't seem to have a problem being all over something when you can do it. whats the matter, can't prove i hate people?
you don't rcognize it as your golden opportunity to discredit me in here once and for all, even after i handed my head to you on a plate?
can't do it? "
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 2:25 AM:
LIAR
"Lodian wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:13 AM:
real facts wrote to WY: "the people in here that i talk to in a way that has you concerned, could care less about who God is, and what HIS authority is on any issue. thier agenda is ONE thing". That's a lie, RF. And that was in the first few sentences to WY. Get a grip. You're wrong".
"
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 2:20 AM:
LIAR
lodian wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:18 AM:
"Almost your entire post to WY is complaining about the people here on this blog. User. " "
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 2:13 AM:
"almost the ENTIRE post"....
liar
Lodian wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:18 AM:
" RF: (1:08 AM) " Now, be nice and prove I am a liar. Almost your entire post to WY is complaining about the people here on this blog. User. "
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 2:08 AM:
tomorrow some time i will paste the rest, if my fingers don't fall off first.
in the meantime, i will bump the post where she has lied for two blogs now about me hating people, that after multiple posts tonight, AFTER I CHALLENGED HER TO DO IT, until she proves i did.
you asked for rain. it's raining
that ought to be enough EVIDENCE she lies without personal conscience "
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 2:01 AM:
Lodian wrote on Jan 23, 2008 10:50 PM:
Even posters like Brian, that have backed RF in the past, are not as present on these blogs "
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:57 AM:
Lodian wrote on Jan 23, 2008 11:00 PM:
" Hey, RF, you're not the boss of me. ;-) You never answer questions and it's funny watching you chase your tail. "
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:53 AM:
i uphold it....liar
Lodian wrote on Jan 23, 2008 11:16 PM:
" You, RF, are undermining God's authority "
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:49 AM:
this lie was designed to steal my effectiveness over the upholding of Gods laws and standards. didn't work
Lodian wrote on Jan 23, 2008 11:22 PM:
" You, RF, are "here to destroy". "
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:41 AM:
lie #(1) not about homosexuals, about sin. i can't condemn anybody, only God can, so thats a lie. you bet i judge peoples motives. God requires me to, in the battle of upholding his authority.
lie #(2) the perpetual (unproven by you) LIE that i hate people
Lodian wrote on Jan 25, 2008 5:43 PM:
"You are out to condemn and judge others, about homosexuals, in his name and I think you ought to be worried about your hateful heart. " "
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:35 AM:
your not a liar, huh?
Lodian wrote on Jan 26, 2008 1:06 AM:
" Rf: You have never sincerely apologized for anything. "
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:32 AM:
LIAR
Lodian wrote on Jan 26, 2008 1:35 AM:
" That hate filled heart of yours needs an intervention". "
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:28 AM:
all my remarks were aimed at encouraging her.
your sick that you said i "blasted her"
real facts wrote on Jan 24, 2008 8:58 PM:" WY; you are most likely afraid of God because of lack of knowledge about who he really is, or someone misrepresented him to you and characterized him as some sort of bully. i assure you he is not. he loves us. he is NOT against us, until we have fully chosen to be against him. thats the difference. "
Lodian wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:25 AM:
Lodian wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:24 AM:
Lodian wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:21 AM:
Lodian wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:20 AM:
Lodian wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:18 AM:
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:17 AM:
lie #1.....i answer "no" questions at all
pit of hell lie #2...i "blasted" WY
Lodian wrote on Jan 26, 2008 12:27 PM:
" RF: You answer no questions at all. You just rant and rave and post hateful responses to everyone when they disagree. It's funny, even when WY posted a nice respectful post to you, you still blasted her. "
Lodian wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:13 AM:
real facts wrote to WY: "the people in here that i talk to in a way that has you concerned, could care less about who God is, and what HIS authority is on any issue. thier agenda is ONE thing". That's a lie, RF. And that was in the first few sentences to WY. Get a grip. You're wrong.
"
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:12 AM:
Lodian Jan 26,4:50 PM:
RF: "You lied about WY. You don't even know her yet you ASSumed something of her and it was offensive, like all of your posts. You enjoy posting that people "lack knowledge of God" when you don't even know us. That was an insult to WY when she came in and even gave you the benefit of the doubt with a nice even post. And what did you do??? You put her down just like you do to everyone else in here. Stop blasting WY and everyone else here. "
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:08 AM:
choke on it
Lodian wrote on Jan 26, 2008 4:50 PM:
" RF: You lied about WY. "
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:03 AM:
" RF @ 12:42 AM: Hey, just re-read your post to WY on Jan 27 @ 2:05 PM. Can you say "user")?
despite being busted on it, what do you do? continue to lie about it.
i am "using" WHY ???????
your a wicked person to say that. "
Lodian wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:03 AM:
Lodian wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:02 AM:
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:01 AM:
no copy and pasted "proof" by you i hate people.
you can't collect $100 AND discredit me all in one fell swoop...
YOUR A LIAR "
Lodian wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:00 AM:
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 12:59 AM:
what you said and did, was straight from the pits of hell.
knowing you, you will high five yourself over it. you should, thats what wolves in sheeps clothing hope to acomplish
drama doesn't describe the trouble you got yourself into over that one.
with that manuever, you took all the "steam" off the glass on your "mirror", so that people can see CLEARLY who you really are now "
Lodian wrote on Jan 29, 2008 12:57 AM:
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 12:53 AM:
" RF: Where can I collect that $100? I have a great charity that would love the donation")
how about instead of not answering my challenge, you actually DO PROVE i hate people.
you can worry about collecting it later.
you don't seem to have a problem being all over something when you can do it. whats the matter, can't prove i hate people?
you don't rcognize it as your golden opportunity to discredit me in here once and for all, even after i handed my head to you on a plate?
can't do it? "
Lodian wrote on Jan 29, 2008 12:53 AM:
heinous: Grossly wicked or reprehensible; abominable: a heinous crime shockingly evil
Yep, you've got drama. "
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 12:48 AM:
Lodian wrote on Jan 27, 2008 2:38 PM:
" He demands answers as if he is the one in charge here and then offers us nothing...no answers in return". "
Lodian wrote on Jan 29, 2008 12:47 AM:
Lodian wrote on Jan 29, 2008 12:46 AM:
Lodian wrote on Jan 29, 2008 12:44 AM:
Lodian wrote on Jan 29, 2008 12:42 AM:
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 12:42 AM:
Lodian wrote on Jan 27, 2008 3:45 PM:
" RF: You are using WY and the posts to her to further your agenda at the rest of us here. (ei; Jan 27, 2008 2:05 PM) " "
Lodian wrote on Jan 29, 2008 12:37 AM:
"
Lodian wrote on Jan 29, 2008 12:36 AM:
Hate defined
1. To feel hostility or animosity toward
2. To detest
3. To feel dislike or distaste for
In light of all your threats and nasty bullying of me here I think I have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that you hate me, and most likely anyone else that stands up to you in disagreement.
Now, where can I collect that $100? I have a great charity that would love the donation. "
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 12:30 AM:
Lodian wrote on Jan 27, 2008 5:22 PM:
"RF: (Re: LNS handles) Here's your answer. Now, remember this as you always twist words and "supposedly" forget what was answered. I AM NOT LEE! I am Lodian on these blogs and only Lodian "
Lodian wrote on Jan 29, 2008 12:28 AM:
Lodian wrote on Jan 29, 2008 12:25 AM:
Lodian wrote on Jan 29, 2008 12:22 AM:
real facts wrote on Jan 29, 2008 12:19 AM: