The Search for our
6th Bishop Diocesan

 

The Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin elects Gregory Kimura as its sixth bishop

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The Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin elected the Rev. Gregory Kimura as its sixth bishop during an Oct. 18 special electing convention.

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Kimura was elected on the second round of balloting with 58.6% of clergy votes and 65.7% of lay votes. A majority of both clergy and lay votes in the same round was needed for election.

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Kimura, who serves as the rector of St. James’ Episcopal Church in South Pasadena in the Diocese of Los Angeles, will succeed the Rt. Rev. David Rice. He will be consecrated and seated by Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe on April 18.

In a livestreamed message expressing his gratitude following the vote, Kimura said he was “humbled to the very core” of his being to be elected bishop.

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“God has planted something very special in the rich and fertile soil of the Diocese of San Joaquin,” he said. “God has great plans ahead for us—growing, blooming, flowering.”

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Kimura is a fourth-generation Japanese American and Alaskan and third-generation Episcopalian, who got his start serving in the Diocese of Alaska at age 25. In addition to his work in the Alaskan diocese, he has served as vice dean of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco and as former rector of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Ojai, where he started a Spanish-language Mass that grew to be the largest of three Sunday services.

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Kimura also has worked in the nonprofit world, previously serving as president and CEO of the Los Angeles-based Japanese American National Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate. He also has been a university chaplain, sheriff’s chaplain, religion professor and department chair at Alaska Pacific University.

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The diocesan nominating committee facilitated time for congregations and clergy to engage with laity and clergy, allowing for a Spirit-filled discernment process, leading to an “effortless election process,” said the Rev. Suzy Ward, president of diocese’s standing committee.

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“The diocese is looking forward to the eventual ordination and consecration of Rev. Greg Kimura in the spring of 2026,” Ward said. “Then we can say that our work has come to an end, but our new bishop’s work will just be beginning.”

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Kimura was elected from a slate of four nominees. The others were:

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• The Rev. Anna Carmichael – canon to the ordinary, Diocese of San Joaquin;

• The Rev. Robert Keim – rector of St. Barnabas, Arroyo Grande, Diocese of El Camino Real;

• The Rev. Shawn Wamsley – canon to the ordinary, Diocese of Pennsylvania.​

 

The Diocese of San Joaquin has 18 active congregations, offering vibrant ministries that address the unique needs of their respective communities. These include feeding ministries, services for the unhoused, and outreach to Latinos and members of the LGBTQ+ community. In addition, the diocese has commissions with lay and ordained members that focus on migrant justice, racial justice and creation care.

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Rice has served as bishop diocesan since 2017, after serving as provisional bishop starting in 2014. He had previously served as the diocesan bishop in the Diocese of Waiapu in the Anglican Church in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

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“It has been my absolute honor and pleasure to serve the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin these 12 years. And I look forward to watching from afar [New Zealand], to see how this wonderful Faith Community called EDSJ moves into the next season of faithful service under the Episcopal leadership of the Rev. Dr. Greg Kimura,” Rice said.

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The diocese has worked hard to heal and rebuild since 2007, when former Bishop John David Schofield led many congregations out of The Episcopal Church. Those who remained have moved out of isolation into re-engagement with the wider church under the leadership of Rice and former provisional bishops the Rt. Rev. Jerry Lamb and Rt. Rev. Chet Talton.

 

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Our Current Focus:  The Consent Process begins

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The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin will now submit paperwork to the wider church regarding the October 18 election of The Rev. Dr. Greg Kimura as its Sixth Bishop Diocesan.  Throughout the Church, over a 120 day window, Standing Committees and Bishops with jurisdiction are asked to consent to the election. This is the final step in the process towards the Bishop-Elect's consecration on April 18, 2026.​​​​

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