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Episcopal diocese reorganizes in Lodi, might allow gay priests

By Ross Farrow
News-Sentinel Staff Writer
Saturday, March 29, 2008 4:24 PM PDT

Pledging unity and inclusiveness to all of God's people, the Episcopal Church's San Joaquin Diocese elected Jerry Lamb as provisional bishop at a special convention Saturday before a crowd of about 300 at St. John's Episcopal Church in Lodi.

Lamb replaces John-David Schofield, the controversial conservative bishop who was deposed on March 12 by national church leaders, who ruled that he had "abandoned" his post as bishop. Due to a disagreement in biblical interpretation of homosexuality, Schofield took the diocese out of Episcopal Church USA and moved to the more conservative Southern Cone province of the Anglican Church based in Argentina.

The Episcopal Church is a branch of the Anglican Church based in England.

Now there are two San Joaquin Dioceses, one remaining in Episcopal Church USA and one in the Anglican Church's Southern Cone.

The change in leadership means that St. John's, who is looking for a priest to replace Father Rick Matters, who left the Lodi parish in May 2007 for a church in Carmel, has the flexibility for the first time to appoint a woman as its priest.

In addition to opposing gays as priests and bishops in the Episcopal Church, Schofield forbid women from serving as priests in his diocese. Lamb supports woman priests. As for gays entering the priesthood, it will be a conversation that clergy and church members will need to have before a decision is made, Lamb said.

"At least these for these people in the diocese, we can talk about it," said John Ledbetter, senior warden at St. John's. "At least we can have an intelligent adult conversation."

Ledbetter said that under Schofield's leadership, discussion about woman priests and homosexuality wasn't allowed. Schofield simply didn't allow it.

St. John's members say their parish has a mixture of liberal, moderate and conservative members, but they agree that they didn't want to leave the Episcopal Church and not follow Schofield to the Southern Cone, which shares Schofield's views about ordaining gay priests.

Priests and members from 18 parishes from Lodi to Bakersfield and east to Ridgecrest came to Lodi on Saturday for several hours that was part business meeting and part celebration. Lamb, who was elected this morning by convention delegates, was installed during a special Eucharist in the afternoon.

While most of those attending the special convention support remaining in the Episcopal Church, Rev. Robert Eaton of St. John's Episcopal Church in Tulare, lodged

Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback

Lodian wrote on Apr 5, 2008 9:00 AM:

" I agree, Billy. Oh, brother! "

Billy Rubin wrote on Apr 4, 2008 12:39 PM:

" Oh, brother. Who is impersonating Reverend Fakes now? The Reverend not only unwisely bet his soul and eternal salvation here on a newspaper blog, but promised to vanish if he was ever caught lying or if he was wrong about real_facts. He was, of course, caught lying again. This must be yet another fake, then? "

Lodian wrote on Apr 2, 2008 6:53 PM:

" Metric: ""Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves".

Indeed!

You just described real facts exactly! "

Lodian wrote on Apr 2, 2008 6:52 PM:

" real facts: Been busy? "

real facts wrote on Apr 2, 2008 2:29 PM:

" metric: you said it perfectly in your 7:51am post "

real facts wrote on Apr 2, 2008 2:26 PM:

" ("Cogito wrote on Mar 31, 2008 8:42 AM:
" Lodian, regarding your 2;14 post: Do you know the answer to any of your questions you ask? ")

she knows the answer(s) all right.

the problem is that she WILLINGLY fights against Gods authority, while calling herself a Christian.

it is for that exact reason, that i oppose her and the "others" in here "

Metric Time System wrote on Apr 2, 2008 7:51 AM:

" EC USA has placed the Bible aside and has chosen to follow the ever shifting winds of popular cultural trends, thereby forfeiting any credibility in Christendom. "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves". Buying into EC USA's false teaching is the spiritual equivalent of wandering blindfolded on the freeway. "

Lodian wrote on Apr 1, 2008 12:08 PM:

" Cogito wrote on Mar 31, 2008 8:42 AM:
"Lodian, regarding your 2;14 post: Do you know the answer to any of your questions you ask?"

Hi Cogito, I am asking a question of someone else, looking for clarification on his or her comment/post or to find out where they are coming from in making their comments. So, I guess the answer to your question to me would be, no, as I am unable to answer for someone else. When someone makes, or takes, a strong stand on an issue, that I may not understand or agree with, I like to ask them to elaborate.
"

max stanfield wrote on Mar 31, 2008 11:01 PM:

" Combining the embrace of lesbians, sickos, homosexual priests, and grasping of all people who are "differently sexually abled", as well as perverted, it is no wonder that the church cant get more than 300 people out for a major event. They can't figure out why their denomination enrollment is sinking like a mammoth rock ?? "

Cogito wrote on Mar 31, 2008 8:42 AM:

" Lodian, regarding your 2;14 post: Do you know the answer to any of your questions you ask? "

Lodian wrote on Mar 30, 2008 11:16 PM:

" Scrutiny 6:08 PM: Why do you have an issue with a priest that is gay?

"

Whoa Nellie! wrote on Mar 30, 2008 9:22 PM:

" Only 300? I drove by twice and was amazed at the number of cars, not to mention the charter bus in the Temple Church "overflow" lot. No one obviously carpooled other than those on the bus.

Welcome back T&C.... I think. "

ranknut wrote on Mar 30, 2008 3:32 PM:

" Ross,
This Headline IS NOT responsible journalism! Other than YOUR question in the press conference, this WAS NOT the main topic of the event nor either national or local bishops address. This is just sensationalism to get a reaction. I hope you don't go to press with this headline! "

Lodian wrote on Mar 30, 2008 2:14 PM:

" Angli-CAN 11:37 AM: Do you really want to talk about where AIDS came from and where/what it is all about today?
"

Angli-CAN wrote on Mar 30, 2008 11:37 AM:

" Hey! It's much simplier than ya all make it. Bible=principles for living; results for ignoring principles. Hell doesn't always refer to eternal damnation that occurs after death. One can live in it now. Read Bible! Preferably with a non-denominational group. It's all about what the Bible says, not what current culture says is happenin' now. Is aides all about bad blood transfusions? "

cany wrote on Mar 30, 2008 11:08 AM:

" I believe the reactionary point of view found in some comments reflects lack of experience. I think if you will experience difference and talk about it and learn (Episcopalians have never shirked this responsibility!) it may ease some of your fears. We are on our second woman Rector, the first having stayed for 15 years. Some in our parish did not support the first call of a woman, and some not the second, either. But they have stayed (we are diverse bunch!), and are loving and God-loving people. I have just adored both women rectors. "

Lodian wrote on Mar 30, 2008 9:43 AM:

" T & C: What FOX is in the Hen House? "

T & C wrote on Mar 30, 2008 8:02 AM:

" A FOX in the Hen House is NEVER a Good Idea! I smell Lawsuits in the future! "

robroy wrote on Mar 30, 2008 5:14 AM:

" ENS: "Jefferts Schori had told the participants earlier that the convention had been called because Bishop John-David Schofield had been deposed...after having abandoned the communion of the Episcopal Church, and because the Standing Committee removed because it took actions 'which violated their ability to hold office in this church.'"

Father Dan Martin writes about this: "The first count is debatable, since the deposition of Bishop Schofield was canonically flawed--a reality clearly evident to any rational and literate person--and the second count is simply a lie." See http://tinyurl.com/35x5wz
"

ranknut wrote on Mar 29, 2008 11:25 PM:

" I believe you misquoted Bishop Lamb. He said the role of homosexuals in the Whole diocese, not just as priests, is something we need to be in discussion about; you can hear the whole press conference @
http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/links/
Our previous bishop wouldn't ordain or recognize women as priests or allow discussion of homosexuality (see Ledbetter quote in article above). How can you discuss as a diocese a concern of the national church when your bishop won't allow it? Don't expect St. John's Lodi, to call a gay priest any time soon, that's not what this is about!
"

weezer wrote on Mar 29, 2008 10:18 PM:

" I've never expected this to happen in livable, loveable Lodi.

Gavin Newsom running for the Lodi City Council will complete the comedic act. "

robroy wrote on Mar 29, 2008 9:21 PM:

" Four hundred in attendance? So with all the carpet baggers, what does that mean for the actual membership in the rump diocese? 200? The national church is pumping in $500k to support the travesty (in the same week they eliminate funding for foreign missionaries). Quid pro quo: "Lamb, you get to be provisional bishop if you sue Schofield for me. I pay for the lawyers, of course." "

voter wrote on Mar 29, 2008 9:10 PM:

" so much for joining hands in a rousing chorus of "Kum-ba-yah" "

robroy wrote on Mar 29, 2008 8:12 PM:

" The whole business is a sham. Canon law, fair play, justice, integrity all out the window. Bp Howe of central Florida has called violations in the votes to depose Schofield and Cox "despicable." Bp Lawrence and the standing committee of South Carolina have said they won't recognize the vichy-like Lamb as provisional bishop. "

Scrutiny wrote on Mar 29, 2008 6:30 PM:

" This HAS to be a sign of the impending Apocalypse!!
"

Scrutiny wrote on Mar 29, 2008 6:08 PM:

" OMG!! Gay priests?? What a bunch of absolute nutjobs!!! "

Comments on this story are now closed.