On Dec. 8, clergy and lay delegates of the San Joaquin Diocese of the Episcopal Church will meet in Fresno for their 48th annual convention and to vote on whether or not to remain a part of the Episcopal Church of America.
“This is a landmark convention for us,” said the Rev. J.P. Wadlin of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Ridgecrest. “This is the second part of a two part process. Any move must be ratified by two successive conventions to become canon law. If it passes and we do remove ourselves from ECUSA, we have to belong to some branch of the Anglican Church. The Archbishops and Bishops of the Province of the Southern Cone in South America have extended an invitation to us to come under their protection. The move would be temporary, pastoral and reversible.”
If ratified, the Diocese of San Joaquin, under the leadership of Bishop John-David Schofield, would be the first to make the move. Prior to this, only individual parishes have broken away and joined themselves to provinces in Africa or South America. San Joaquin Diocese, which extends from Stockton to Bakersfield and Rosamond to Mammoth, would become part of the Southern Cone, along with up to five other conservative dioceses, which are expected to make the move in the next six months.
John Paul was our priest here in Dio Chicago before leaving for Dio San Joaquin. J.P. was just too evangelical for them. Upon his leaving, downtown told us in no uncertain terms that we needed to “move back to the ‘center’ of Episcopal faith and worship.” We were helped in that process by Rev. Mathes (now of San Diego). Long story short, the new priest is a former UCC minister who is “center/left.”
Glad to see that J.P.’s and Pam’s gifts are being used in a friendlier place.
On another note, interesting to see that the first responder to the original article was L. Crew. Just as interesting to see that Mr. Crew felt the need to list ALL his degrees and positions held (past and present). Just so everyone would know, I guess.