The Right Reverend Dr. Gregory W. Kimura is the 6th Diocesan Bishop in the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin. An Episcopal Bishop offers governance over the diocese in which he or she has been consecrated or translated (moving from another diocese). This governance occurs through various synodical processes. Their presidency includes ordinations and confirmations. A bishop supervises the clergy of his or her diocese and is the Chief Priest.

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Greg Kimura is a fourth-generation Japanese American and Alaskan and third-generation Episcopalian. Ordained at twenty-five, he has served as vicar and then rector of Holy Spirit Episcopal Church, the last church in the Diocese of Alaska to move from mission to parish status. He has served Episcopal and ELCA congregations in Alaska and California, including Rector of St. Andrew’s, Ojai (where he started a Spanish-language Mass that grew to be the largest of three Sunday services;) Vice Dean of Grace Cathedral, SF; Pastor of Alaska Native Lutheran Church/Lutheran Church of Hope (the largest indigenous congregation in the national denomination); and Rector of St. James’, South Pasadena.  

 

He has also been a university chaplain, religion professor and department chair at Alaska Pacific University, and is the immediate past president/CEO of the Japanese American National Museum in LA, a Smithsonian-affiliate museum and the cultural institution of record for the community.

 

Greg has been a volunteer Sheriff’s chaplain in Ventura and LA County and member of the Upper Ojai Search and Rescue team. He has served on the Board of Bloy House (the Episcopal Seminary in Los Angeles), Chair of the Jubilee Consortium (EDLA Social Services nonprofit), Co-chair of the Sanctuary Task Force of EDLA, Commission on Ministry (Alaska and LA), and the Alumni Advisory Council of Harvard Divinity School.

 

Greg is an avid outdoor enthusiast and enjoys trail running, hiking and climbing, and motorcycling.

 

He has authored or edited numerous academic, art, and fiction books, including NEOPRAGMATISM AND THEOLOGICAL REASON, HELLO! THE SUPERCUTE WORLD OF HELLO KITTY, ALASKA AT 50: THE PAST, PRESENT, AND NEXT FIFTY YEARS OF STATEHOOD, and is currently writing LIVING SANCTUARY, about his experience supporting immigrants in the church.

 

Greg has been married to Joy Atrops-Kimura for 34 years and they have two children, Julian, an undergraduate at UC Davis and Lily, a junior in high school. They also have Daisy, a rescue dog.