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[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Tuesday, August 17, 2004

Two Southern California parishes vote alignment with Uganda diocese

By Jan Nunley

ENS 081704-2

[ENS, New York, August 17, 2004] - The vestries of two Southern California 
congregations have voted to align themselves under the pastoral oversight 
of a Ugandan bishop, declaring that after years of opposition to openly gay 
clergy and the blessing of same-sex unions they "will no longer be 
affiliated with the Episcopal Church USA or the Diocese of Los Angeles 
[www.ladiocese.org]."

Los Angeles Bishop Jon Bruno responded to the announcement by stating 
"there are many matters to consider before these actions can be considered 
fully final."

Representatives of All Saints Church in Long Beach 
[www.allsaintslongbeach.org] and St. James' Church in Newport Beach 
[www.stjamesnewportbeach.org] delivered to Bruno's office letters stating 
their disassociation from the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Los 
Angeles, and their affiliation with the Diocese of Luweero 
[www.anglicancommunion.org/tour/diocese.cfm?Idind=595&view=alpha], under 
Bishop Evans Mukasa Kisekka. But Bruno, who said he was not notified of the 
actions in advance, was not present at the time. Each letter reads: "We 
have delivered this letter personally in order to honor you by having you 
learn of these actions from us instead of from any other source."

St. James' has some 1,218 "communicants in good standing" and All Saints 
some 429, according to diocesan officials. Both congregations are known to 
have significantly reduced their 2004 pledges to the diocese.

The Diocese of Luweero has 29 parishes with an average of 10 churches per 
parish, bringing the total number of congregations in the diocese to around 
300, the majority led by catechists who have had no formal theological 
training. Its bishop is a member of the conservative Ekklesia Society 
[www.ekk.org] and has served as the representative of the Archbishop of 
Uganda to various conservative gatherings in the U.S. According to a news 
release, All Saints' has "a close and longstanding relationship with the 
Province of Uganda and the Diocese of Luweero, where many of its 
missionaries have served."

Longstanding conflicts

The letter from All Saints is signed by its rector, the Rev. William A. 
Thompson, who is also Western Convocation dean of the Network of Anglican 
Communion Dioceses and Parishes (NACDP) [www.anglicancommunionnetwork.org], 
an organization with which nine of the Episcopal Church's 112 dioceses are 
formally affiliated. The letter is co-signed by All Saints' senior warden, 
David Thornburg.

Signers of the letter from St. James' are its rector, the Rev. Praveen 
Bunyan, and senior warden Jim Dale. Bunyan was preceded as rector of St. 
James' Church by the Rev. David Anderson, president of the Washington, 
D.C.-based American Anglican Council, which opposed the consecration last 
year of an openly gay priest as bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire. 
Reportedly among funders for the opposition effort was Newport Beach 
financier Howard Ahmanson.

Both congregations acknowledged longstanding conflicts with the perceived 
direction of the Episcopal Church. "This has not been an easy decision for 
us," Thompson said in a news release from All Saints. "We have struggled 
with this for a number of years."

"St. James' worked very hard for many years to reconcile our differences 
with the Episcopal Church USA and the Diocese of Los Angeles, both in our 
own hearts and through extensive dialogue. However, that effort has brought 
no comfort to ease our pain.

"The members of St. James' wish to move beyond this issue, so we can 
concentrate on our core mission: To glorify God, uphold the Holy Scripture, 
raise our children to love and serve Jesus Christ and share the Gospel with 
the world," concluded Bunyan.

Thompson and Bunyan did not return calls from the Episcopal News Service 
(ENS) requesting comment, but asked, through a spokeswoman, that interview 
questions be posed in advance by electronic mail.

Alternative oversight declined

Speaking with ENS, Bruno said his views on the matter are reflected in an 
August 17 statement he released through the diocese: "I have made ongoing 
and longstanding attempts to be their bishop and pastor and friend. I have 
had no warning of this taking place, and am saddened by their unwillingness 
to call my office and make an appointment to discuss this before they made 
this attempt to move to the Diocese of Luweero in the Province of Uganda. I 
have been in contact with the Presiding Bishop, and the chancellors of the 
diocese are reviewing this matter with me."

Bruno's statement continues: "I have recently offered these two 
congregations, along with two others, the option of alternative pastoral 
oversight by an Episcopal bishop with whom they are in agreement. It was an 
option they declined. At the time, their spokesman, the Rev. William 
Thompson, said there was no need for that at this time, and they were 
looking forward to my visitation to their church.

"Until I have had an opportunity to fully consider this action and its 
validity, the diocese will have no further statement. There are many 
matters to consider before these actions can be considered final. "

Bruno's full statement is posted on-line at www.ladiocese.org. Statements 
from the two parishes are posted online at www.allsaintslongbeach.org and 
www.stjamesnewportbeach.org.

--Jan Nunley is deputy director of Episcopal News Service. ENS staff 
members Bob Williams and Matthew Davies contributed to this article.

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