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Rector of Vista Episcopal church quits, will start new congregation
By Sandi Dolbee
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
August 1, 2006
A fourth local congregation has become a casualty of the continuing ideological fractures within the U.S. Episcopal Church.
The Rev. Joe Rees has resigned as rector of All Saints' Episcopal Church in Vista and is planning to start a new church under the jurisdiction of a conservative Anglican bishop in Bolivia.
Rees announced to his congregation on Sunday that he is joining the staff of St. Anne's Church in Oceanside, which broke away from the San Diego diocese earlier this year, and will work with St. Anne's to start a new Anglican church in Vista.
Rees said yesterday that about 20 to 25 members of All Saints have resigned – and he expects more of the 230-member congregation to follow.
“This is something I wanted to do as a witness,” said Rees, citing what he considers an erosion of biblical orthodoxy in the Episcopal denomination.
The denomination's most recent divisions began three years ago with the election of a gay bishop in New Hampshire and have escalated steadily.
About 35 to 50 parishes have left nationally, according to estimates, out of more than 7,000 congregations. Many have sought oversight from bishops elsewhere in the worldwide Anglican Communion (the U.S. Episcopal Church is an autonomous branch of that communion).
In San Diego, the breakaways began in December when the Rev. Keith Acker resigned from Christ the King in Alpine and took most of the congregation with him. That was followed by St. Anne's in Oceanside and St. John's in Fallbrook, both of which are staying in their buildings.
Rees, 53, said he plans to begin a weekly Bible study and “informal holy Eucharist” on Aug. 13 at a Vista business.
San Diego Episcopal Bishop James Mathes is on vacation, but spokesman Howard Smith described him as being “very disappointed.”
Smith said an interim priest will be sent to All Saints'. Asked about members leaving that parish, Smith responded: “We will have services there on Sunday and we'll know more then.”
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Sandi Dolbee: (619) 293-2082; sandi.dolbee@uniontrib.com
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20060801-9999-1m1church.html
