Grace's History

Growing With Grace

A Brief History of Grace Episcopal Church

As the former bishop of the diocese, John-David Schofield moved toward schism in 2007, a group called Remain Episcopal formed in the northern part of the diocese. The group eventually opened a chapter in Bakersfield. About a dozen or so people met at the home of Larry and Pat Bentley late in 2006 and then perhaps 15-20 met again at the Beale Library in January, 2007.

That group then formed a house church that met weekly for worship and potluck on Sunday afternoons during the spring, summer, and fall at people's homes. Though I am an Episcopal priest and a member, I was not canonically certified in the diocese (Bishop Schofield had withdrawn my license), so we did not have Communion but read Evening Prayer together.

Later in 2007, knowing that the schism was imminent (the diocese had voted the previous year to leave The Episcopal Church (TEC) and was going to have a second vote on December 8), Remain Episcopal Bakersfield met in the chapel of First Congregational Church (FCC) and celebrated Holy Communion. I celebrated and preached at that service.

The group met again on Epiphany Sunday in 2008 and, again, I was the priest. At first the group met at 5 p.m. and eventually moved to 10 a.m. on Sundays. The attendance in the early days was probably 20-25.

On January 24, 2008, "The Rev. Canon Robert Moore, of Seattle, who was appointed by the Episcopal Church’s presiding bishop, the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, as an 'interim pastoral presence' in the San Joaquin Valley, spent the day in the greater Bakersfield area as part of a five-day 'listening tour' that will culminate in a valley-wide conference in Hanford on Saturday."[1]

            An article on January 25th in the Bakersfield Californian reports Canon Moore's visit:

At a Thursday night gathering of 60 to 70 believers and clergy[2] at First Congregational Church and hosted by Remain Episcopal in the Diocese of San Joaquin, a faith community opposed to the split, Moore received hearty applause when he announced he had appointed the Rev. Tim Vivian, a Bakersfield resident, to a “temporary pastoral position as missionary priest under my direct supervision, which puts him within the jurisdiction of the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church.”

Moore thus opened the way for Vivian to administer sacraments such as marriage, baptism and the Eucharist to local believers who don’t have a parish to go to, as all three diocesan parishes in Bakersfield voted in favor of the split. Vivian is a Remain Episcopal member and a licensed priest canonically resident in Los Angeles, meaning he could perform priestly duties in that diocese but not in San Joaquin without proper licensing or consent.

“There’s no bishop to license him” locally, Moore said, since Jefferts Schori formally declared on Jan. 11 that San Joaquin Bishop John-David Schofield, who led the diocesan split, had abandoned the communion of the Episcopal Church and “inhibited,” or stopped, his duties as a bishop. Vivian’s temporary assignment will cease “as soon as there is a new bishop,” Moore said.

In 2008, the Most Rev. Jefferts Schori nominated The Rt. Rev. Jerry Lamb, retired bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California, as Provisional Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin. In March 2008 delegates from the remaining Episcopal parishes unanimously elected Bishop Lamb as Provisional. (Bishop Lamb retired in March of 2011 and on March 5 the delegates and clergy elected The Rt. Rev. Chester Talton as the new provisional Bishop.)

On Sunday, November 16, 2008, Bishop Lamb installed me as Vicar of Grace Episcopal Church, thus making Grace officially a mission of the diocese. On May 31, 2009, the Saturday before Pentecost, Bishop Lamb ordained Dr. Vern Hill, a former Methodist minister, as Priest.

The parish is now a fully functioning mission with:

·         a 9-member Bishop’s Committee, Senior Warden, and Junior Warden

·         two part-time clergy

o   The Rev. Dr. Tim Vivian, Vicar (1/3 time)

o   The Rev. Dr. Vern Hill, Associate Vicar (1/6 time)

·         141 canonical parishioners (as of March 2011)

·         average Sunday attendance (2010) of 72

·         Sunday school and adult education

·         paid staff

o   choir director

o   pianist

o   two child care persons

o   youth director

·         numerous committees and groups: stewardship, outreach, LGBT, Daughters of the King, Cycles of Leadership, Aging with Grace, men’s group, worship, etc.

·         Eucharistic Ministers (who help with Sunday services), Pastoral Eucharistic Ministers (who help with home visits and pastoral care), and acolytes.

Grace has grown slowly but steadily, as has its pledged income. The budget in 2011 is $92,000, up from $72,000 in 2010. In addition in 2010, Grace raised more than $13,000 for outreach.

Growth is hard to predict. About one third of the parish is former Roman Catholics. Since Grace is the only welcoming and inclusive church within the Catholic tradition (Orthodox, Anglican, Roman), we anticipate more growth in this area. About 20% of parishioners identify as LGBT, with many couples, many of whom have children.           

We don’t know how long we’ll stay at First Congregational Church (FCC). That’s partly up to FCC. Although the Episcopal Church has prevailed in almost all its legal proceedings to regain the property and monies of the diocese, it’s not clear (1) when the cases will finally be settled and (2) what happens after that.

Grace currently pays First Congregational Church one thousand dollars/month for full use of the chapel and most other buildings on the FCC campus. FCC very generously did not charge us for more than a year, and then introduced a gradual rent increase until it reached the current amount.

Grace has child care (less than four years of age) with two paid staff, Sunday School (Kindergarten through grade 6), Episcopal Youth Fellowship (Middle and High School) with a paid director, and Adult Education (book group, speakers, catechism classes, Lent and Advent soup suppers and program). The Youth Director and I lead confirmation and baptismal instruction, usually once a year for confirmation and twice a year for baptisms. Classes run about six weeks.

Perhaps most important is that Grace practices mutual ministry, where everyone is a minister, not just the clergy. This is crucial to the founding, health, and growth of a parish.

March, 2011

[1] Episcopal News Service. “San Joaquin: Moving Forward, Welcoming All  conference to host online audience January 26.”  www.ensonline.org. 23 Jan 2008.

[2] I love that, “believers and clergy.”