Bakersfield.com

I am an Episcopalian! Despite all the tests and trials that have been thrown at us in the past months, I am very proud to be able to say that. I am what they call a “cradle Episcopalian”. As long as I can remember, as a very young child, that was part of who I am!

 

What made me choose to be an Episcopalian as an adult? I always felt that the Episcopal Church accepted everyone. As a teenager, I went to other churches with my friends, but I always went back to where I felt at home. As a young mother, I tried other churches, thinking that there was more out there, only to return to what I knew, what was comfortable. Now I also know that the Episcopal Church is the right place for me to live the Gospel.

 

In December of 2007, The Diocese of San Joaquin voted to leave the Episcopal Church. The church buildings were still there and, yes, the signs in front said “The Episcopal Church Welcomes You”—but not everyone was welcome. Some of my friends were asked by the priest to resign from service organizations and from volunteer work around the church because they didn’t fit into the new so-called “Anglican” Church. But what is “Anglican,” really? Webster’s Dictionary says “related to and in communion with the Church of England”. In other words, despite the actions of this diocese, the Episcopal Church was—and still is—part of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

 

But then I learned that there still were Episcopalians in town and in the valley, organizing, forced to meet in people’s homes as the first Christians did. So I attended a service and loved what I saw and felt. I joined Remain Episcopal and I’ve watched our church grow, from just a few people to thirty, then fifty, and more. This was a loving, welcoming, and inclusive Christian community!  Thanks to the kindness of First Congregational, we hold services in their Chapel. We have a priest, an assistant priest and we even have a choir. We have a place for our children and ALL ARE WELCOME!

 

This Sunday, a little over two months since the decision was made to split the Church---we held our first Baptism. A little baby girl became a part of the Body of Christ and our faith community. We also celebrated communion with a woman priest, The Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Davenport, from the diocese of Los Angeles.

 

As a verse from one of our hymns says, “God has made a new beginning from the ashes of our past; in the losing and the winning we hold fast”.

 

We Episcopalians joyfully reaffirmed our baptismal vows this Sunday with words that are even more appropriate these days:

 

Will you seek and serve Christ in ALL persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?

 

Will you strive for justice and peace among ALL people, and respect the dignity of every human being?

 

Yes, we will! Thanks be to God!