St. James' rector Praveen Bunyan said he and many church members are like-minded when it comes to spreading the gospel.

"The idea stemmed from our own members wanting to take the good news of Jesus and starting fellowship in different areas," he said.

Church planting literally means to establish churches or ministries in a community. It can be done in different ways, Bunyan said.

"We don't plan on buying properties or buildings and setting up churches," he said. "But we are going to get people together in each community to form a cell. They can later multiply within their own community, and if they so desire can even raise the money to build their own church."

St. James will simply provide guidance, training and encouragement, Bunyan said.

For the immediate future, St. James is looking at cities such as Cerritos, La Mirada, Riverside and Palm Desert, he said. But the pastor was quick to add that he was not planning on luring people away from the Episcopal church or any other church.

"I've never believed in what I call sheep-stealing," he said. "When someone is not happy with their church, I always encourage them to talk to their pastor."

The main goal is to reach the "unchurched," Bunyan said.

"There are many families whose grandparents or parents may have been Christians," he explained. "They may even call themselves Christians. But they probably don't go to church or don't have a relationship with God. That is our target audience."

The diocese is embroiled in a legal battle with the churches, having filed lawsuits against them, stating that the property on which the seceded churches stand as well as the buildings themselves belong to the diocese.

Despite the legal battle, J. Jon Bruno, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, said he had no problem with St. James' new venture.

"The Episcopal Church has planted plenty of churches," he said. "All denominations do it. I personally have never stopped anyone from proclaiming the Gospel."

St. Michael's and All Angels Episcopal Church in Corona del Mar would love to work with St. James on its church-planting mission, said rector Peter Haynes.

The two churches had many common ministries, all of which came to an abrupt halt with the secession, he said.

St. James itself was planted by Messiah Episcopal Church, the oldest Episcopal church in Orange County, Haynes said.

"Our church was in turn planted by St. James and we planted St. Andrew's in Irvine," Haynes said. "That's the way it all works."

St. Michael's would like to work with St. James despite the differences, he said.

"I still hope and pray that St. James and the other churches will come back to the Episcopal Church," Haynes said. "I hope they realize that our friendships are more important than doctrines and philosophies. That what unites us is more important than what divides us."

But for Bunyan, it's about proliferating the ideas and doctrines along with spreading the love of God, he said.

"The question is: How may orthodox, traditional churches exist in Orange County?" he said. "And how many do we want to see in the next five years? If we don't do anything about it, we'll be one church in a corner, offering an option."

END