10/17/2008
Episcopal Diocese charges clergy with abandonment
by Communications Director
Episcopal Diocese charges clergy with abandonment of communion
The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin today determined that sixteen deacons and thirty-six priests had abandoned the communion of the Episcopal Church. Findings against each of the fifty-two clergy were based on specific violations of the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church related to their support of attempts to remove the diocese from the Episcopal Church, and their repudiation of the ecclesiastical authority of the Episcopal Church and the diocese.
Should the bishop concur with these findings, the clergy will be inhibited and not allowed to function as an Episcopal priest or deacon, or be employed by an Episcopal congregation. Episcopal Church law provides clergy six months to recant and return to the Episcopal Church. Clergy who do not recant will be removed from the ministry of the Episcopal Church.
"This action," explained the Rt. Rev. Jerry Lamb, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin, "does not imply a moral judgment of an individual clergy person. It speaks only about the person's relationship to the Episcopal Church. I recognize that these people may have many wonderful gifts for ministry, and perhaps these talents could be used in another Christian denomination."
The Episcopal Church asserts that only individuals may voluntarily leave the church. Parishes and diocese are integral parts of the church, and may not leave without the express consent of the governing bodies of the church. All clergy who are ordained in the church take a vow to "conform to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Episcopal Church," and to obey their bishop and other ministers who may have authority over them and their work.
Clergy charged with Abandonment of the Communion are listed below:
Clergy Charged with Abandoment of Communion
of the Episcopal Church
October 17, 2008
| The Rev. Judith Battershell, Ridgecrest The Rev. David Brown, Woodlake The Rev. Madeline Burton Ahwahnee The Rev. Wes Clare, Tehachapi The Rev. Donald Cleave, San Diego The Rev. John Combs, Los Banos The Rev. Dale Cox, Springville The Rev. Karl Dietze, Bakersfield The Rev. William R. Eastman, Modesto The Rev. Jack Estes , Bakersfield The Rev. Jack Faucett, Bakersfield The Rev. Canon David M. Foster, Stockton The Rev. Thomas Foster, Modesto The Rev. William Gandenberger, Clovis The Rev. Erin Giles, Manteca The Rev. Howard Giles, Manteca The Rev. Laurel Greene, Fresno The Rev. Woodrow Gubuan, Stockton The Rev. Robert Hilliard, Livingston The Rev. Richard L. James, Visalia The Rev. Buck Jones, Atwater The Rev. Michael Jun, Bakersfield The Rev. Gordon Kamai, Oakhurst The Rev. Linda Klug, Bishop The Rev. Wolfgang Krismanits, Sonora The Rev. Robert Latour, Porterville The Rev. Cathy Leach, Three Rivers The Rev. Frances Levy, Visalia The Rev. Tom Maggitti, Modesto The Rev. Jeannee Marker, Avenal The Rev. Van McCalister, Tulare The Rev. Michael McClenaghan, Modesto The Rev. Arlen Neckels, Valley Springs The Rev. Stephen G. Nicholls, Delano The Rev. Ronald Parry, Merced The Rev. Tancredo Pastores, Jr., Visalia The Rev. Carlos Raines, Clovis The Rev. John Reibe, Bakersfield The Rev. Robert R. Richard, Bakersfield The Rev. Kenneth Richards, Clovis The Rev. Roger Riggsby, Sutter Creek The Rev. Jerry Roberts, Copperopolis The Rev. Donald Seeks, Reedley The Rev. James L. Snell, Fresno The Rev. Kay Sprague, Bishop The Rev. James Stout, Copperopolis The Rev. Mary Swann, Sonora The Rev. Charles Threewit, Palmdale The Rev. Robert Tobias, Oakdale The Rev. John Paul Wadlin, Ridgecrest The Rev. Andrew Watson, Reedley The Rev. Jane Williams, Sanger |
