AN At last: San Joaquin to Visalia since its establishment in early 2008. San Joaquin has had many female EDITION over the years and now boasts four female ordain a woman to priesthood priests, all of whom were ordained in other OF dioceses. Women were first ordained to the priesthood in The Episcopal Church in 1975. EPISCOPAL n June 27, 2009, when the Rt. Rev. Jerry After June 27 there will be only two dioceses left that have not ordained a woman, Quincy LIFE Lamb asks God to “make her a priest in your (in Illinois) and Fort Worth. Church,” it will be the first time these words Suzy and her husband, Jon Ward, who have JUNE O been married for 30 years, are both teachers in have been spoken in the Diocese of San Joaquin. the city of Tulare. Jon teaches third grade and 2009 Suzy teaches kindergarten. Their children are The historic moment will come during the as an ordained Annalissa, an attorney who works for Michael service of the Ordination of a Priest. The on June Glass, our diocesan chancellor, and Jon-Ethan, woman being ordained is the Rev. Suzanne 14. During those a staff sergeant in the army national guard, Ward, affectionately known as Suzy. The 12 years, she has currently deployed to Iraq. VOLUME 20 D R A

service begins at 1:00 pm at Church of the worked toward a W He will not be able to A I N P O

Saviour in Hanford. master of divinity M attend his mother’s J

NUMBER 6 Y : L O O

The Rt. Rev. Nedi Rivera will preach. degree at the T ordination, but he will F O O H P Rivera is suffragan bishop of the Diocese of Mennonite E be sent a “live-feed” of the S E C

Olympia and, in a missionary partnership, is Brethren Biblical Above: The Rev. Suzanne O service, which will begin I D

also assisting bishop of the Diocese of Eastern Seminary in Ward; Right: The Rt. Rev. Y at 11 p.m. for him. He S E T

Oregon. The first Hispanic woman to be Fresno, awarded Nedi Rivera. R promises to stay up for U O

ordained a bishop in The Episcopal Church, on May 17, 2009, C the entire service. she is well-known in this diocese as the with a certificate in Anglican studies through an All are invited to Hanford for this momentous daughter of the late Victor Rivera, third bishop association with Trinity Episcopal Seminary. occasion. To RSVP for the reception please of San Joaquin. Suzy has assisted with the leadership of the phone 559-732-1249 or 559-636-8444 or e-mail Suzy will celebrate her 12th anniversary continuing St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in [email protected]. J N I

U Keeping our promises,

Q to God and each other By Doris Hall have brought groups of people A together to talk about these things SINCE THE FIRST stirrings of a and to seek guidance from leaders, N I

renewed Episcopal Diocese of San our own “home-grown” ones and T R O A

Joaquin, in January 2008, we have several from the wider church. M Y R

focused on who we are, what The ever-growing list of such R E T J our mission is, where we are events now includes two regional : O T O

going, and how to keep our ministry fairs, attended by 100-plus H baptismal promises. enthusiastic members of the P

N Many events, diocesan family, and four ministry development for TEC. large and community “tent events,” all held The ministry fairs were hosted small, in late April and early May. The by Christ the King, Riverbank, and A Rev. Terry Martin, program director Church of the Saviour, Hanford. for evangelism for The Episcopal Both days included training for Below: Church (TEC), was a principal church treasurers and discussions S Juanita Weber starts figure at all five events, along on prayer practices and meditation, the Anglican rosary class on with Demi Prentiss, steps to the ordination process, L

their projects; Camilla Pulatie program officer for praying with the Anglican rosary, L e A H

from Visalia made this rosary. lay leadership and stewardship, lay ministries, and S I R f evangelism. The days were book- O D : O T i ended with opening presentations O H

by Martin and Prentiss and a P closing Eucharist. A highlight was Top: The big red tent at the L the plenary session in the form of Turlock event; Above: Nancy Key

l a conversation dealing with our and Joyce Tanner share notes relationships with our separated during a break at the Hanford brothers and sisters. Ministry Fair.

a The community events took place in Ridgecrest, Turlock, shelters, and more. Fr. Terry’s look Madera, and Tracy. They were held at the tent events, with several under a huge red tent and featured good photos, appears on his p a lunch followed by speakers from website, fathertlistenstothe the respective communities who world.blogspot.com told about available programs “We are people who follow o ranging from food banks to To Page C adoption agencies to homeless (more photos on pages C and D) c L L A H S I R s O D : O i T O H P

p INSIDE

I A history of women’s ordination in The Episcopal E Church. Page B B Episcopal Life SAN JOAQUIN June 2009 A short history of women as BISHOP’S MESSAGE Dear Friends, remains the calling of priests in The Episcopal Church the Christian church eace be with you. I pray that you even up to our own day. From www.ReligiousTolerance.org, Phave had a joyful Easter Season One of the collects for used with permission filled with God’s blessings. Pentecost sums up the role The beautiful Season of Easter ends of the church by recalling that 1970: The General Convention of with the celebration of Pentecost that every race and nation is called to hear The Episcopal Church voted on a recalls and relives the experience of the and believe the Good News, and the measure to authorize female ordination. disciples who had locked themselves in Good News is to be preached to the It was approved by the laity but narrowly an upper room because of fear of what ends of the earth. As members of the defeated by clerical deputies. might happen to them after Jesus’ church we are called to preach the 1973: The General Convention rejected death and resurrection. The well-known Good News that Jesus is the Christ. female ordination for the second time. passage from the second chapter of We are called to live out the Great 1973: Qualified women deacons were Acts tells about the coming of the Holy Commission. presented alongside men for ordination Spirit upon the group, how they left In the midst of all the turmoil

to the priesthood in New York. The D the upper room, and Peter began to around us in the Diocese of San A E R bishop refused to ordain the women. proclaim the Good News that Jesus Joaquin, with legal action ongoing, and N A S

1974 – July 29: The “Philadelphia U is God’s Son and that He was risen hostility facing us, we must remember S

:

Eleven” were “irregularly” ordained as O from the dead so that we might have we are called, not to attack other T O H

priests in Philadelphia by two retired and P new life. Christians, but to make Christ present one resigned bishop. “The event caused The Rev. Linda Huggard, vicar of All Pentecost is considered the by word and action to a world that great consternation among the church Souls’ Episcopal Church, Ridgecrest, beginning of the Christian church. does not know Him. Let your actions hierarchy. On August 15, the House of celebrates the congregation’s first The disciples speak louder than words: Live the , called to an emergency meeting, Easter Eucharist. knew Jesus, but gospel, care for the sick and homeless, denounced the ordinations and declared they were reticent be a peacemaker, teach your children them invalid. Charges were filed against in Philadelphia passed a resolution to proclaim to love God and care for other people. the dissident bishops. Attempts were declaring that “no one shall be denied Him out of fear. Love God with all your heart and love made to prevent the women from serving access” to ordination into the three The power of the your neighbor as yourself. Be part of their priestly ministries.” orders of ministry: as deacons, priests Spirit drove them the Christian Church. 1974 – October 27: Alison Cheek, Carter or bishops, on the basis of their sex. A into the streets Heyward, and Jeannette Piccard celebrated second resolution declared that no one of Jerusalem In peace , their first public Episcopal service at could be barred from participating in the proclaiming the ¦Jerry Lamb Riverside Church in New York, NY. life and governance of the church, either Good News. That Bishop of San Joaquin 1974 – November: The Rev William because of their gender, or because of Wendt invited Alison Cheek to celebrate their theological beliefs concerning the at St Stephen’s and the Incarnation in ordination of women. Washington, DC. He is later charged, 1977: The priests who were irregularly tried and disciplined for violating canons. ordained at Philadelphia and Washington 1974 – December: Rev Peter Beebe were “regularized.” One hundred women invited Alison Cheek and Carter Heyward were ordained by the end of the year. to celebrate at Christ Church, Oberlin, 1978: The Lambeth Conference OH. He was charged and tried for accepted female ordination as an option violating canons. at the discretion of the local province. 1976 – July: After much heated 1988 – September 24: The Rev. debate, the 72nd General Convention Barbara C. Harris was elected suffragan E T

bishop of Massachusetts. She was I S B consecrated on February 11, 1990. E W

N

1997: Only four dioceses still refused I U Q

to ordain female priests: Eau Claire A O J

(Wisconsin), Fort Worth (Texas), Quincy N A S

(Illinois), and San Joaquin. P M A C

2006 – June: The Right Reverend Y S E

Katharine Jefferts Schori, Bishop of the T R U

Diocese of Nevada, was elected the 26th O C presiding bishop-elect of The Episcopal Church on June 18. This places her at Visitors at the Episcopal Church the highest level of power in the Two camping sessions end with Women’s April meeting and Anglican Communion: status as Primate luncheon at St. John the Baptist in of an Anglican province. Her election Camp San Joaquin Day August 1 Lodi were, left to right, Cordelia was confirmed by the House of Deputies, Burt, Province VIII president-elect; as required by church canons. She will CAMP SAN JOAQUIN, at 7,000 feet in an appreciation of God’s natural Lavinia Fineanganoso, St. Mark’s, serve a term of nine years. the cool pine forest of the Giant Sequoia order though study, observation and Tracy; Lois Roberts from Dale City, Approximately one in four Episcopal National Monument, is offering two participation in all of the many Virginia; and Betty Pederson, clergy is a woman. One diocese reports youth programs this summer, both activities that Camp San Joaquin offers. St. Mark’s, Tracy. that 62.5 percent of their clergy are during the last week of July. This camp starts on Wednesday, July female. J The Art, Science and Ecology Camp, 29 and concludes on August 1. The from Monday, July 27 to Saturday, fee is $225. August 1, offers a hands-on wilderness All meals are included. experiences for campers entering 7th Among the many activities at camp AN OAQUIN grade through 12th grade. Campers are hiking, mountain biking, swimming, Episcopal Lif eS J will learn from seasoned musicians, volleyball, basketball and ping-pong. Episcopal Life San Joaquin is a publication of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin, photographers, artists, forest rangers And there is plenty of time to relax and P.O. Box 7606, Stockton, CA 95267 Phone: 209-952-0006; Fax: 209-952-0009 and naturalists. An overnight backpack make new friends. trip will be offered. The camp will Camp San Joaquin brochures are Editor: Doris Hall , [email protected]; Visit our website: conclude with Camp San Joaquin Day available at your church and an [email protected] www.diosanjoaquin.org on August 1. The fee for the five-night, application form is available at the Art Director: Molly Ruttan-Moffat six-day camp is $325. camp’s website, www.campsan The four-day, three-night Enrichment joaquin.com . Applications are due by Be a part of Episcopal Life San Joaquin ! Please send your stories, photos, information, Camp is taught by Visalia’s St. Paul’s July 13, 2009, along with payment. letters, or announcements by the 5th day of each month for inclusion in the following School staff. Designed for campers Camperships are available. Please call month’s edition of Episcopal Life San Joaquin . Our mailing address is: Editor, Episcopal Life entering 4th grade through 8th grade, the camp registrar at 559-732-4821 for San Joaquin, PO Box 7606, Stockton, CA 95267, or E-mail: [email protected] the program emphasis is on developing June 2009 C Episcopal Life SAN JOAQUIN

SPOTLIGHT Doing God’s work in Visalia By Sharon Bentley the first Easter service after the split from our local church. Good Samaritan Biker saves Easter L

St. Paul’s Continuing Episcopal Planning for Deacon Suzy’s ordination L A H

Church of Visalia had an interesting We are excitedly making plans for the N A S

prelude to Easter services courtesy of a ordination of our deacon, Suzy Ward, U S : O

good Samaritan on a roaring motorcycle. into the Episcopal priesthood at her T O H

Said motorcycle roared into the parking historic ordination on June 27 at Church P lot of our meeting place as opening of the Savior in Hanford. Suzy will be the The Rev. Canon Mark Hall addresses the Visalia congregation during a visit hymns were being sung. Our friendly first female to be ordained as priest in there last fall. biker informed the curious ushers that this diocese. Bishop Nedi Rivera has been our priest, Neil Lawson, had endured invited to preach. Bishop Rivera is the saved money to be sent to Episcopal work in the Sudan. (Robin was recently a “fatality” with his car battery, was daughter of our much-loved Bishop Relief and Development to purchase featured on the cover of The Living stranded on the roadside a few miles Victor Rivera, who was rector at St. animals for supporting a village economy. Church magazine.) The children in our away, and could someone come? Most Paul’s in Visalia from 1945 to 1968, when Several in our congregation walked in congregation have been busy collecting parishioners were oblivious of the he was elected bishop. the local Crop Walk, a portion of which “Pennies for Peace” to fund an Afghan problem, even though we oddly kept will support FoodLink, feeding the needy school for girls. Several members of our repeating verses of the hymn we were Working on the MDGs of Tulare County. Our congregation congregation have also been working singing. Moments later, Father Neil We are diligently working on fulfilling raised over $900. with Habitat for Humanity, repairing arrived and the service continued the Millennium Development Goals Our first rummage sale on June 20 foreclosed homes that are being prepared without further interruption. During the through participation in many local and will raise funds for Visalia Emergency for resale to qualified families who have service we remembered the faithful, international projects that focus on Aid and continue our sponsorship of not had a home of their own. original members who gathered in a eradicating poverty. During Lent, some of Robin Denney, a young Episcopalian We may be small in number, but our school cafeteria just one year ago for our members fasted and then donated formerly from Visalia, in her missionary hearts are big. J

Fresno man honored Episcopal Relief & by alma mater Development in action DR. ROBERT KITTREDGE from Holy years. After his L

Family, Fresno, received one of 13 retirement in L By Eleanor Osborne, Diocesan Coordinator, Episcopal Relief and Development A H

Excellence Awards given by State 1992, he helped S I R

University of New York (SUNY) at Albany found Stone O AS I PREPARED to attend Episcopal Relief & Development’s 2009 network D : O

on May 1, 2009. He was honored with Soup and has T meeting in Denver in May, I was excited although not sure what to expect. O H

the award for excellence in community worked there P Mainly I looked forward to meeting the other diocesan coordinators for service for his work at Stone Soup tirelessly ever since. Kathleen Garabed, the first time. Fresno. A retired faculty member at Stone Soup’s director, says, “[Bob] is Several of the people at the meeting asked me to talk about our experiences California State University, Fresno (CSUF ), the ultimate community builder.” in the Diocese of San Joaquin, and in turn I heard about problems in other Kittredge is a co-founder of Stone Soup, a Kittredge also is a member of the dioceses. nonprofit organization whose mission is executive committee of the Central Here are some of the topics we discussed: to support the health, safety, education California Forum on Refugee Affairs. He 1. We had a session on creating a sermon. And yes, it should tell a story! and civic engagement of Southeast Asian has helped found a suicide prevention 2. Experienced coordinators told us how to be more active and productive refugee families in the Fresno area. hotline, is a member of Rotary, and has during our diocesan conventions. Kittredge was advisor to CSUF’s traveled to Thailand and Vietnam to 3. A conversation about how to send donations to Episcopal Relief and Hmong Student Association for many work with Habitat for Humanity. J Development quickly and with more accuracy was helpful. 4. We are asked to use the full name of the organization, Episcopal Relief & Development, not ERD. Keeping our promises The ideas were helpful, and I will continue to share them with you. FROM PAGE A Thank you for your support of Episcopal Relief and Development’s worldwide programs. You may learn more about them at www.er-d.org . J Jesus,” Prentiss reminded her audience in Hanford. “We need to get in behind what God is doing and not hide in the middle of the flock.” Good Friday at All Souls’ The Rt. Rev. Jerry Lamb, bishop of By Susan Read San Joaquin, has said that part of the work of our diocesan convention is to IN A QUIET and dramatic setting, the examine how a diocese functions and Good Friday service at All Souls’ L

L what its mission should be. The April Episcopal Church, Ridgecrest, concluded A H

S and May gatherings were designed to the ceremonial stripping of the altar with I R

O help fulfill that challenge and steer us the Stations of the Cross. The antique, D : O

T toward the work that will be continued hand-carved wooden plaques depicting O H

P October 23-25 at our annual “family Jesus's final hours were a gift to the D

reunion” weekend. congregation from member Brad Carroll. A E R

The 2009 convention “I researched some resources online N A S

will be in Modesto. J for stations, then contacted my friend U S : O

Tyler, an antique bookseller, who I was T O H

Above: Demi Prentiss sure would be able to help me find P speaks at opening something special.” Left to right: Philipp Storch, Brad session in Hanford. Carroll also crafted the cross on which Carroll, Perrin Storch. Left: The tent event the plaques were interchanged as, one by in Ridgecrest drew one, worshippers stood beside the bare devotion by St. Francis of Assisi. D

A presenters like altar and a wood-hewn image of Jesus to “This really was the most moving Good E R

N George “Tex” Hoppus, read the portion of scripture describing Friday service I can recall,” said Felice A S

U who represented the each Passion scene. Several participants Plain-Mueller. “The Stations are beautiful S : O

T Senior Services of were moved to tears in the stillness, part and simple, a fitting way to observe O H

P Indian Wells Valley. of a tradition that began as a chapel D Episcopal Life SAN JOAQUIN June 2009

Ministry fairs NEWS BRIEFS (See story on page A) Taken at the Hanford I Benedictine experience can be yours ministry fair. The Rev. Basil Matthews, who recently completed his assignment as priest- Counterclockwise beginning in-charge of St. John’s, Lodi, will be L L

at left: The Rev. Basil the director of the 24th Benedictine A H S

Matthews, who led a Experience at Bishop’s Ranch in the I R O

workshop at both fairs, and Diocese of California. To be held July D : O T

Dr. Lynnette Zelezny from 5-12, 2009, the experience is a time spent O H Holy Family, Fresno; the in community designed for those who P Rev. Dr. Tim Vivian, Susan wish to nurture and strengthen their I Delivery of new clothing and a tour Ohanneson and Marilyn daily lives through prayer and spiritual A few members of the outreach Metzger, all from Grace companionship. For more information committee of Holy Family, Fresno, took Bakersfield; CJ Pina and you may contact Fr. Basil at basil.m@ two large boxes full of new underwear, the Rev. David Pina from earthlink.net . socks, and pajamas to the Craycroft St. Mark's, Tracy; and Center in Fresno, all donated by church Jan Dunlap from Grace I The Rev. Vern members and friends for the children Bakersfield with Faye Choate Hill ordained to who come to the center at times of crisis from Sonora. priesthood May 30 in their lives. A staff member showed the The next issue visitors through the facility and told its H T

of Episcopal Life San I story. Pictured are Richard Jennings, M Joaquin will bring S George, the tour guide, Anne Y D N

you the story and I Benninghoven, and Linda Sterling. C : O

photographs from T O H

Vern’s ordination. P I Another group This photo was taken during his to head to Navajoland ordination to the diaconate in September Members of the youth 2008. Vern serves at Grace Bakersfield. group from Holy Family, Fresno, will be joined by several I Avery church supports adults for a six-day trip to Navajoland, women’s crisis center Aug. 3-8. While there they will learn The vestry of St. Clare of Assisi in about the Navajo culture and assist Avery has voted to support the Calaveras residents by painting houses and doing County Women’s Crisis Center. The some home repairs. The trip will help center furnishes direction and friendship fulfill the resolution passed at diocesan to women in need and runs a thrift shop convention last October which called in in San Andreas. This is just one of part for groups from San Joaquin “to St. Clare’s outreach ministries. provide willing hands for specific agreed upon projects” in Navajoland. J I General Convention: You can be there, too . . . Not next door to Disneyland, but in This issue of the thick of things, thanks to the Office Episcopal Life San Joaquin of Communications of The Episcopal is brought to you in part Church and its Media Hub, designed to by a generous donation bring you the full story of the nearly-two- week event. You will be able to follow, from Dr. Lynnette Zelezny watch, understand, experience and enjoy and family from PHOTOS BY DORIS HALL the convention 2009 no matter where Holy Family Episcopal Church you are. Look for the complete story in in Fresno. this issue of Episcopal Life . SPOTLIGHT Holy Family names priest-in-charge THE VESTRY OF Holy Family Episcopal Holy Family, Education for Ministry to four sons are Jacob, Eli, Elliot, and Church in Fresno has chosen the Rev. adults, and Wednesday Parish Nights Jonathan. Michele Racusin to be priest-in-charge to the entire congregation. The congregation said farewell to beginning June 1. She is married to Sam Racusin. Their interim pastor Jim Stickney on May 31. J Michele has been an associate priest and minister of education at Holy Family for the past year. Prior to that N E R

G she served at Grace Cathedral in San D N I

L Francisco, Diocese of California, and at Y E

L St. Elizabeth’s in San Francisco. She L E H

S made a 7½-hour round trip three times : O

T a month from her home in Clovis to O H

P practice her priesthood, in addition to Sarah Locke shows the quilt she made working in Fresno as a CPA. for the St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser She was ordained deacon in the at St. Matthew’s in San Andreas. The Diocese of San Joaquin in 2004 and dinner, quilt, and a basket raffle raised priest in the Diocese of California enough for St. Matthew’s ECW to in 2005.

purchase a sponsorship of $500 for the Michele has been instrumental in R E L

American Cancer Society Relay for Life. bringing Godly Play to the youth of D D A E I R A M N N

Everyone is invited to visit our website A : O T O H

www.diosanjoaquin.org P The Rev. Michele Racusin regularly invites children to watch God’s table being set for communion.