03/14/2008
Bakersfield Congregation Nearly Quadruples Size
by Pat McCaughan
"We're ready and waiting to be recognized as an official mission as soon as there's somebody in place that can do that," said Smith, a systems engineer who is president of Remain Episcopal and a member of the steering committee of the continuing Diocese of San Joaquin, now based in Stockton.The wait may not be long. A March 29 special convention is planned to elect a provisional bishop and a standing committee and other diocesan officers.
The election is the latest in a series of developments since December 8, when 42 of 47 congregations approved Bishop John-David Schofield's plan to leave The Episcopal Church (TEC) and realign with the Argentina-based Anglican Province of the Southern Cone. If a majority at the House of Bishops March 7-13 meeting in Navasota, Texas, agree Schofield has abandoned the communion, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori will depose him and declare the episcopacy vacant, paving the way for the special convention.
The Presiding Bishop has also appointed a 26-member steering committee to organize that convention and has designated an interim pastoral presence for continuing Episcopalians.
About 25 congregations, some start-ups like Grace and other continuing congregations have since opted to remain with TEC.
"Right now we're calling ourselves a mission-in-waiting. We want to be called Grace Episcopal," Smith said. "As far as we know, the name hasn't been used here in San Joaquin and we thought it's high time it is. It's amazing what can happen in a year," she added. "We want to be inclusive, to try to reflect the values The Episcopal Church reflects and we want to try to educate people to what that is, so much of that has been subdued or ignored here."
