Remain Episcopal to host baptism, female priest
BY LOUIS MEDINA
Bakersfield (CA) Californian
Feb 15 2008
Two newsmaking events are scheduled to take place Sunday at the local gathering of Remain Episcopal, the faith community of believers opposed to the San Joaquin Diocese's recent split from the Episcopal Church over doctrinal differences.
During the first part of the worship, the Rev. Tim Vivian, an ordained Episcopal priest and a professor at Cal State Bakersfield, will perform a baptism -- his first since recently having been appointed as temporary missionary priest to the local community by an emissary of the church's presiding bishop, the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori.
Later, a visiting female priest from Los Angeles will celebrate Communion toward the end of the Mass.
It’s all here …
Church Split Over Gay Bishop Invites Gays To Attend
Church Officials Claim Doors Are Only Shut To Gays In Ministry
February 13, 2008
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- A bishop came to Bakersfield to talk about the division of the Episcopal Church over the appointment of a gay bishop.
In December 2007, numerous churches within the San Joaquin Archdiocese voted to leave the national church after a gay bishop was appointed.
Tuesday night, Bishop John-Davis Scofield [sic] from the San Joaquin Diocese told the congregation at St. Lukes that the church has not shut its doors on everyone, just those involved in ministry who don't live according to their interpretation of scripture.
It’s all here …
"Church split over gay bishop-----", etc. Sorry, Bishop Schofield, but that's no justification. The plain TRUTH of the matter is that neither the Episcopal nor Anglican churches should be "shutting their doors" to ANYONE who wants to, and is capable of becoming, a member of the clergy: men, women, "straight", gay, makes no difference! Assuming that they all have the requisite education and/or experience and any other qualifications necessary, they should all be considered equally for any position openings, etc. As long as they're technically qualified, that should be all that's necessary. To not consider them is just pure prejudice and rank discrimination!
Posted by: Ed Clarke | February 22, 2008 at 10:13 PM
The slow dismanteling of TEC isn't because of the homosexual issue, it's much deeper than that. Unfortunately people are using that as the whipping boy for their arguments. The fact is, TEC's insistence on creating a new religion is what's causing it to fall apart and people are resisting it. An 11% decrease in attendance a year should be evidence enough to who that people have had enough.
Posted by: DJ | February 25, 2008 at 02:02 PM