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We welcome as friends everyone, of any race, gender, creed, denomination, political affiliation, or sexual orientation, for all of us "are one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28
St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Bakersfield welcomes you to worship. We invite you to join our inclusive community as we deepen our awareness of the presence of Jesus Christ in us through the Episcopal tradition of inclusivity, worship, and service. We welcome all to share His joy and love with us, rejoicing in the transforming power of the Spirit.
"[At St. Paul's clergy and laity] are sharing ministry . . . in a way that should be spotlighted for the rest of the church. The joy and enthusiasm I saw in the congregation truly reflected the signs of the Holy Spirit."
The Rev. Canon Sarah, Shofstall Diocese of Western Massachusetts
We welcome as friends everyone, of any race, gender, creed, denomination, political affiliation, or sexual orientation, for all of us "are one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28
St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Bakersfield welcomes you to worship. We invite you to join our inclusive community as we deepen our awareness of the presence of Jesus Christ in us through the Episcopal tradition of inclusivity, worship, and service. We welcome all to share His joy and love with us, rejoicing in the transforming power of the Spirit.
"[At St. Paul's clergy and laity] are sharing ministry . . . in a way that should be spotlighted for the rest of the church. The joy and enthusiasm I saw in the congregation truly reflected the signs of the Holy Spirit."
The Rev. Canon Sarah, Shofstall Diocese of Western Massachusetts
A Time of Transition: Grace Episcopal to St. Paul's Episcopal
On July 1, 2013, after six years of litigation by the Episcopal Church, St. Paul’s returned to the Episcopal Church, and Grace Episcopal Church, founded after the schism in 2007, moved to St. Paul’s. Read below for more on the history of Grace.
For more on the schism see the link “Anglican Split, Episcopal Schism” under “History.”
For more on the ethos of Grace (St. Paul's) Episcopal Church and The Episcopal Church, see “Statement of Welcome” below.
St. Paul’s is a fully functioning mission with:
* A Bishop’s Committee, Senior Warden and Junior Warden
* The Rev. Luis Rodriguez, Priest-in-Charge
* 170 parishioners (as of June 2013)
* Average Sunday attendance (June, 2013) of 104
* Sunday school, youth & adult education
* paid staff
* choir director
* pianist
* child care workers
* youth director
* numerous committees and groups: Stewardship, Outreach, LGBT, Daughters of the King,
St. Paul's Men’s Group, Youth Group, Social Justice and many more.
* Eucharistic Ministers (who help with Sunday services), Pastoral Eucharistic Ministers (who help with home visits
and pastoral care), lectors (readers on Sunday), and acolytes.
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. Our priest, The Rev. Dr. Tim Vivian, was not canonically certified in the diocese (Bishop Schofield had withdrawn his license), so we did not have Communion but read Evening Prayer together.
Later in 2007, on All Saints’ Day, 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. Grace remained at FCC through June, 2013.
The group met again on Epiphany Sunday in 2008. 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 about 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 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 Dr. Vivian 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. Rev. Deb DeBoer, a Presbyterian minister, joined our staff in 2013.
Grace grew slowly but steadily, with about 170 members and average Sunday attendance of 104 in June, 2013, when it became St.
Paul’s.
On July 1, 2013, Grace Episcopal Church became St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and moved to its current location at 2216 17th
Street.
[1] Episcopal News Service. “San Joaquin: Moving Forward, Welcoming All conference to host online audience January 26.”
www.ensonline.org. 23 Jan 2008.
On July 1, 2013, after six years of litigation by the Episcopal Church, St. Paul’s returned to the Episcopal Church, and Grace Episcopal Church, founded after the schism in 2007, moved to St. Paul’s. Read below for more on the history of Grace.
For more on the schism see the link “Anglican Split, Episcopal Schism” under “History.”
For more on the ethos of Grace (St. Paul's) Episcopal Church and The Episcopal Church, see “Statement of Welcome” below.
St. Paul’s is a fully functioning mission with:
* A Bishop’s Committee, Senior Warden and Junior Warden
* The Rev. Luis Rodriguez, Priest-in-Charge
* 170 parishioners (as of June 2013)
* Average Sunday attendance (June, 2013) of 104
* Sunday school, youth & adult education
* paid staff
* choir director
* pianist
* child care workers
* youth director
* numerous committees and groups: Stewardship, Outreach, LGBT, Daughters of the King,
St. Paul's Men’s Group, Youth Group, Social Justice and many more.
* Eucharistic Ministers (who help with Sunday services), Pastoral Eucharistic Ministers (who help with home visits
and pastoral care), lectors (readers on Sunday), and acolytes.
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. Our priest, The Rev. Dr. Tim Vivian, was not canonically certified in the diocese (Bishop Schofield had withdrawn his license), so we did not have Communion but read Evening Prayer together.
Later in 2007, on All Saints’ Day, 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. Grace remained at FCC through June, 2013.
The group met again on Epiphany Sunday in 2008. 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 about 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 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 Dr. Vivian 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. Rev. Deb DeBoer, a Presbyterian minister, joined our staff in 2013.
Grace grew slowly but steadily, with about 170 members and average Sunday attendance of 104 in June, 2013, when it became St.
Paul’s.
On July 1, 2013, Grace Episcopal Church became St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and moved to its current location at 2216 17th
Street.
[1] Episcopal News Service. “San Joaquin: Moving Forward, Welcoming All conference to host online audience January 26.”
www.ensonline.org. 23 Jan 2008.
Statement of WelcomeAll Are Welcome!
All are welcome at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Bakersfield. If you are Asian, Hispanic, Black, or White. If you are Christian, or if you are not Christian. If you are male or female or transgender. If you are three days old, 30 years old, or 103 years old. If you have never stepped foot in a church or are a life-long Christian. If you are single, married, partnered, separated or divorced. If you are straight, gay, lesbian, or bisexual. If you are Republican, Democrat, Independent, Socialist, or not registered to vote. If you have, or had, addictions, phobias, abortions, or a criminal record. If you own your home, rent, live with your parents, or are homeless. If you are fully-abled, disabled, or a person of differing abilities. All are welcome. This is a safe place to encounter God and one another. We at St. Paul's Episcopal Church commit ourselves to the radical hospitality and inclusiveness of Jesus Christ. In faithfulness to the Gospel; the holy, catholic, and apostolic tradition; and our Anglican and Episcopal heritage, and to the best of our ability, we pledge ourselves to providing programs, ministries, and pastoral care to all who seek God in this place. 
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