San Joaquin Convention Sends Missionaries, Money Overseas
Episcopal News Service. November 8, 2000 [2000-196]
Dick Snyder
(ENS) A new diocesan program which calls for sending missionaries to areas of the world "where no Christian work was being done" was announced by the Rt. Rev. John-David Schofield during the 41st annual convention of the Diocese of San Joaquin, held at St. James Cathedral, Fresno.
Schofield used as his convention address theme a verse from the book of Revelation: "Behold, I make all things new."
Schofield explained that the concept for the missionary endeavor came from diocesan representatives to the New Wineskins Conference. "The Lord's plan (for San Joaquin) came into focus," he said. "We were to support, and become involved in, missionary outreach in areas and peoples of the world where no Christian work was being done." During the coming year, the diocese will send clergy to Nepal, Pakistan, and Laos. In addition, youth leaders being trained as counselors in Youth Quest, another diocesan initiative, may join the clergy for missionary stints later in the year.
A diocesan youth convention, with 200 in attendance, was held concurrently at the diocesan conference center, ECCO.
One of the first missionaries will be the Rev. Sam Vongsant, who will return to his native Laos after being gone from that country for 25 years. Vongsant said he is looking forward to seeing his family members again, as well as participating in missionary work. Schofield noted that Vongsant has translated the Book of Common Prayer into Laotian.
As part of its outreach, the diocese will also send $53,000 to "wonderfully orthodox dioceses in Africa," said Schofield. The money will be sent in the name of the national church, and the diocese reduced its payment to the national church by that amount.
Schofield also told delegates that while many people had left the Episcopal Church because of "decisions made by last summer's General Convention," he has no plans to leave. "I am quite content to be obedient to Jesus and his word as a ember of the Episcopal Church, particularly because I know that primates heading up various provinces of the Anglican Communion throughout the world are monitoring us carefully," he said.
A resolution stating support for Episcopalians who have joined the Anglican Mission in America failed on a divided vote, with clergy supporting it and lay delegates rejecting it.
Schofield said the diocese will be preparing for growth by helping parishes and missions in four areas: youth work, discipleship, evangelism, and stewardship. He said the diocese should be ready to double in size in the next five years, and triple in 10. He cited demographic studies showing that California's San Joaquin Valley will triple is population in the next 20 to 30 years. A diocesan budget of $1,321,000 -- which includes four percent pay increases for diocesan clergy -- was also passed. The budget also includes a full-time youth director.
Convention delegates learned that diocesan youth camp, Camp San Joaquin, will be closed "for one year at least," according to the bishop. San Joaquin's diocesan council will assess the cost of needed renovation for buildings there, and the council must assess the impact of Sequoia -- where the camp is located -- being designated a national monument by President Clinton.