Deacons, priests and several lay people of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin – which includes 47 churches from San Joaquin County in the north to Kern County in the south and the Nevada border in the east – will cast ballots in Fresno over whether to disassociate with the ECUSA because of its liberal theological bent, and issues such as blessing same-sex unions and ordaining openly homosexual priests and bishops.
“Frankly, we as Christians have to come to some conclusion if the Bible is the inspired word of God or if it’s just a bunch of campfire stories,” said the Rev. Van McCalister, spokesman for the San Joaquin Diocese. “Most of us believe it to be the word of God.”
If diocesan voters approve the measure by a two-thirds majority of lay people and clerics, it would confirm a similar vote taken at the 2006 convention and ostensibly break the diocese away from the ECUSA. Diocesan rules force any bylaws change of this magnitude to be passed in two consecutive conventions before taking effect.
Thy Will be done…
It is done! An overwhelming vote of yes!