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Bishop Jerry Lamb, center, installs Father Harold Clinehens, left, as pastor of St. John's Episcopal Church in Lodi on Sunday night. At right is Susan Reeve, a deacon from St. Brigid's Episcopal Church in Rio Vista. (Ross Farrow/News-Sentinel)
New St. John's priest welcomes Muslims, Sikhs at installation
When Father Harold Clinehens was preparing for his installation as priest at St. John's Episcopal Church, he wanted to invite representatives from other churches in the Lodi area.
But Clinehens wanted to go a step further. He certainly intended to invite Christian leaders in Lodi, but he also wanted to extend a hand to non-Christians as well.
So three representatives from Lodi's Sikh temple and one more from the Lodi Muslim Mosque attended Clinehens' late-afternoon installation on Sunday, and they were warmly welcomed by Clinehens, San Joaquin Diocese Bishop Jerry Lamb and other parishioners from St. John's.
"We are all creatures of God," said Balbahadur Paul, secretary of the Deshmesh Darbar Sikh temple at Armstrong Road and West Lane. "We are glad they invited us."
Taj Khan, representing the Lodi Muslim Mosque, added, "I really like this kind of interaction between different faiths. It helps each other do good things in the world."
Clinehens said after his installation service that he was delighted that the Sikhs and Muslims could come and celebrate with them.
"It was a really positive sign," Clinehens said. "I want to see what the interfaith community can do together, and celebrate our brotherhood and sisterhood."
Clinehens said he invited representatives from the Buddhist Church of Lodi, but nobody from that church attended the installation.
Clinehens said he will think of more events the church can hold that will allow him to invite Christians and non-Christians alike.
Pastors from several churches stand during Father Harold Clinehens' installation as priest of St. John's Episcopal Church on Sunday. (Ross Farrow/News-Sentinel)
"We knew that when we hired him," St. John's Senior Warden John Ledbetter said. "That was part of the conversation we had with him."
Clinehens, who gave his first sermon at St. John's on May 31, replaces Father Rick Matters, who left the Lodi church two years ago to become a priest at All Saints Episcopal Church in Carmel.
Father Basil Matthews, of San Francisco, filled in as interim priest until Clinehens was selected by St. John's vestry and search committee.
Clinehens most recently served at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Tucson, Ariz., where he was interim priest for a year. Before that, he was interim priest for a year-and-a-half in Scottsdale, Ariz., and rector for seven years in Huntington Beach.
Clinehens was selected from a field of almost 20 applicants from all over the country, Ledbetter said.
Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.
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Lodian wrote on Aug 18, 2009 12:30 PM:
Lodian wrote on Aug 17, 2009 11:53 PM:
You said it but you can't seem to back it up. What are your sources? To whom have you spoken from the Stockton synagogue? Are you Jewish? What is it, Brian? Why would you make such a statement? I wonder if the good people of the Stockton synagogue are happy with someone like you suggesting these reasons as to why they did not attend after such an invitation. Or are you just flapping your gums again with hate in your heart for homosexual people, as usual? "
Robb wrote on Aug 17, 2009 8:26 PM:
YATTA
YATTA "
Brian wrote on Aug 17, 2009 7:10 PM:
Many in the Jewish community consider homosexuality along the same lines as murder.Perhaps this answers the question why those from the local synagogue did not attend. Episcopals have a long track record of embracing homosexuality.
Perhaps is not an absolute. Many is not all. And most is not everyone. Please try to follow along. "
Rhodie wrote on Aug 17, 2009 3:39 PM:
Rhodie wrote on Aug 17, 2009 3:38 PM:
Lodian wrote on Aug 17, 2009 12:26 PM:
Rhodie wrote on Aug 17, 2009 11:40 AM:
Apparently it WOULD be a good thing for prayer/meditation before government meetings.
http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSTRE57G3LN20090817?feedType=RSS&feedName=scienceNews&rpc=76
Article talks about the benifits the brain recieves from prayer/meditation including calming and concentration. "
Lodian wrote on Aug 17, 2009 11:20 AM:
Brian wrote on Aug 17, 2009 8:34 AM:
Many in the Jewish community consider homosexuality along the same lines as murder.Perhaps this answers the question why those from the local synagogue did not attend. Episcopals have a long track record of embracing homosexuality.
And before you go attacking me for making this statement ask any Jew how they feel about homosexuality? Most believe it's a horrid sin. "
Lodian wrote on Aug 14, 2009 11:47 AM:
anayud: An invitation was extended to the only synagogue in San Joaquin County. They did not attend. "
Lodian wrote on Aug 14, 2009 11:37 AM:
Bobcat: Of course they do. "
Lodian wrote on Aug 14, 2009 11:36 AM:
Bobcat: Yes, they were invited, but did not attend. "
bobcat wrote on Aug 13, 2009 5:52 PM:
tosh conn wrote on Aug 13, 2009 3:45 PM:
tosh conn wrote on Aug 13, 2009 3:45 PM:
Lodian wrote on Aug 12, 2009 8:10 PM:
dyan wrote on Aug 12, 2009 3:32 PM:
Lodian wrote on Aug 12, 2009 1:02 PM:
dyan wrote on Aug 12, 2009 10:58 AM:
Lodian wrote on Aug 12, 2009 10:16 AM:
dyan wrote on Aug 12, 2009 7:45 AM:
what22 wrote on Aug 12, 2009 1:00 AM:
OTH wrote on Aug 11, 2009 10:34 PM:
Lodian wrote on Aug 11, 2009 9:09 PM:
Ross Farrow wrote on Aug 11, 2009 6:23 PM:
dyan wrote on Aug 11, 2009 8:38 AM:
Lodian wrote on Aug 11, 2009 12:26 AM:
pork chop wrote on Aug 11, 2009 12:08 AM:
pork chop wrote on Aug 11, 2009 12:05 AM:
pork chop wrote on Aug 11, 2009 12:03 AM:
bobcat wrote on Aug 10, 2009 10:35 PM:
Leonard wrote on Aug 10, 2009 8:11 PM:
They need it. "
dogs4you wrote on Aug 10, 2009 5:55 PM:
Leonard wrote on Aug 10, 2009 5:14 PM:
Leonard wrote on Aug 10, 2009 4:31 PM:
Try to make room in your heart for Christ's love. Hard as it may be to believe, even one such as yourself can be saved. "
Leonard wrote on Aug 10, 2009 4:28 PM:
It's tragic that Father Harold doesn't warn the congregation of the dangers of taking communion inappropriately.
Were you there? Did you hear what he said?
Do yourself a favor Audi and stop making a fool of yourself by denigrating men who are undoubtedly better Christians than you. "
Lodian wrote on Aug 10, 2009 3:42 PM:
oldmanriver wrote on Aug 10, 2009 3:35 PM:
See how long someone will sit with you at a public place while you argue about the minutia of dogma and amplify the differences you see between people you don't think have enough in common.
The point is you don't need anyone to talk to, you don't care what they have to say. You just need to be heard. "
Audi 5000 wrote on Aug 10, 2009 2:26 PM:
Was communion offered to unbelievers? What about the warnings in the Bible against doing just this sort of thing?
"Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. ... For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. ...That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep."
It's tragic that Father Harold doesn't warn the congregation of the dangers of taking communion inappropriately.
Again, very clear instruction for those who believe God's word is relevant today. "
anayud wrote on Aug 10, 2009 1:56 PM:
Leonard wrote on Aug 10, 2009 12:53 PM:
" The most urgent message our community needs to hear is not one of what unifies us as people, but of what separates us from God (sin), and what Jesus has done (conquered death) to allow us to come into a right standing with God, as we accept His forgiveness.
Is there a more important issue to speak on from the pulpit on a Sunday than this?
I'm sorry, did it say that Holy Communion was not offered? I must have missed that part. "
Leonard wrote on Aug 10, 2009 12:47 PM:
" Fat chance you'll get the Muslim community to embrace Christian doctrine.
Chuckle....
Yeah Brian, that's because they are MUSLIMS. If they embraced Christian doctrine, they would be Christians.
Duh..... "
oldmanriver wrote on Aug 10, 2009 12:40 PM:
Audi 5000 wrote on Aug 10, 2009 12:07 PM:
Is there a more important issue to speak on from the pulpit on a Sunday than this? "
jramagic wrote on Aug 10, 2009 11:49 AM:
thinkaboutit wrote on Aug 10, 2009 11:28 AM:
OTH wrote on Aug 10, 2009 11:27 AM:
Whether it's a social club or a church if they can make it work so much the better. "
Audi 5000 wrote on Aug 10, 2009 11:07 AM:
OTH wrote on Aug 10, 2009 10:55 AM:
You said it well. If the politicians and the so called Christians can't do it maybe Father Clinehens will be a beginning. I wish him well and may God bless him in his work. Now if some other local churches would follow suit. "
Brian wrote on Aug 10, 2009 8:57 AM:
You mean the centuries of dialogue we've tried to establish with them
and they still spit in our face? Sorry, a little townhall meeting isn't going to change or even start to change things. Let's ask them if they are willing to have an open house at their Mosque and see if they alter their centuries old customs to accomodate us? "
Brian wrote on Aug 10, 2009 8:34 AM:
They like us only as much as they have to. It's offensive to them to see women and men together in the same room in a house of worship. "
wtf wrote on Aug 10, 2009 8:30 AM:
Comments on this story are now closed.