the primary diocesan website address is http://www.sjoaquin.net
Press release April 25, 2008
The Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin looks a lot like it did before it joined the Anglican province of the Southern Cone. Its people are worshiping in the same church buildings in the same way alongside the same leaders. They have the same bishop and the same cathedral. Nearly nine of every 10 clergy and 40 parishes and missions have remained with the diocese.
But, there is at least one big difference. For the first time in decades, San Joaquin doesn’t have to be impacted or embarrassed by what The Episcopal Church’s leadership (and its supporters) are doing or saying.
"It’s almost as if we are in a different world,” said the Rev. Canon Bill Gandenberger, who serves as the Canon to the Ordinary for the diocese. While no lawsuits have yet been filed, there are attempts by The Episcopal Church’s recently formed Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin to claim they are Corporation Sole, a failed attempt to seize the Anglican diocese’s bank accounts, and some shenanigans involving one of the diocese’s web addresses (the primary diocesan website address is http://www.sjoaquin.net).
“We are seeing parishioners who left because of the liberal drift of the Episcopal Church come home to many of our congregations. A number of parishes are reporting general increases in regular attendance, and new visitors are more frequent,” said Gandenberger.
San Joaquin’s experience tracks closely with what has happened with individual realigning parishes, said the Rt. Rev. John Guernsey, Network dean and bishop for the more than 40 Network congregations in the United States under the care of the Anglican Province of Uganda. “Overwhelmingly, churches that I serve have experienced great freedom and joy and excitement in moving forward in mission, leaving behind them the conflict with The Episcopal Church. They are excited to be able to once again primarily focus on the Gospel call to proclaim Jesus Christ in a culture that needs him so much,” he explained.
San Joaquin is certainly excited about focusing on the Gospel story. Three Anglican churches in Bakersfield — All Saints, St. Luke’s and St. Paul’s — banded together to host the Network’s Sharing our Faith Conference April 11–13. The conference, which featured noted Anglican Evangelists Michael and Rosemary Green and Network Director for Evangelism Jenny Noyes, focused on equipping clergy and laity to take the good news of the Gospel out into their communities.
The rectors of these churches reported that on that Saturday, about 80 trained people who attended the two-day event went to two malls and the river walk area of Bakersfield and spoke to more than 1,000 people about Jesus Christ. Some of those people came to the three churches on Sunday morning. Nineteen became believing Christians and are starting a Christian “Foundations” course this week. “People were excited to have done this with such ease and want to do evangelistic outreaches again!” said Gandenberger. In addition, plans are underway to hold a similar conference next year. Kevin Kallsen of AnglicanTV.org recorded all the material taught at the Bakersfield conference. He will soon make it available for purchase and to train church members wherever they live.
The Diocese of San Joaquin is also preparing for next week’s visit by their new Archbishop, the Most Rev. Gregory Venables. He will be meeting with leadership, leading a seminar, worshipping and getting to know the people of the Diocese personally for the first time.
While the dust is still settling from the momentous action of their Diocesan convention in December last year, Bishop John-David Schofield reports that new Rectors and Vicars have been called; new priests and deacons have been ordained; more people are seeking vocations to the priesthood and the diaconate; many more are seeking spiritual direction as well as studying to become spiritual directors; new prison ministries have been affirmed; early efforts to plant new churches are underway; and the diocese’s youth discipleship camp this summer, Camp H2O, is going to celebrate its eighth year anticipating participants from throughout California
The diocese’s current missionary endeavors are also expanding. Fr. Michael Jun just returned from Vietnam with Global Teams (see www.global-teams.org) after training pastors to shepherd the 35 house-churches recently formed. Fr. Jeff Sampson, currently in Afghanistan, assists in the formation of multiple orphanages. Fr. Martin Bunsy continues to form new Christians in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, and labors to complete the farm and herd of goats in the country that is creating a self-funding (meat, milk and ice cream) base for Christian outreach to the nation (see www.jacobsfarm.org). Fr. Jim Short continues his work in Uganda assisting bishops and dioceses. “Numerous churches outside our current borders are seeking ways to come under our covering in the same way that we came under the covering of the Southern Cone. There is no shortage of activity internationally, nearby, and within the Diocese of San Joaquin,” said Gandenberger.
- Posted April 25, 2008–
