Valley's split Episcopal dioceses hold separate conventions

Report from San Joaquin on the two conventions this past weekend.

They weren't together this year. They were separated in different towns -- 33 miles apart.

For the first time in 49 years, two conventions were held for delegates who previously met at one convention under the governing body of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin, based in Fresno.

At the 2007 convention, the last time delegates were together, they seceded from the U.S. Episcopal Church over differences with the national body's approval of same-sex blessings, ordination of a gay bishop, the role of women in the church and the authority of Scripture.

The result was a breakaway diocese now aligned with the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone, based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A remaining diocese made up of congregations that didn't want to split is still connected to the U.S. Episcopal Church.

This weekend, they had their first conventions apart. Delegates from the 37 congregations aligned with the Anglican province met Friday and Saturday at St. James' Cathedral in Fresno. Delegates from the 17 congregations remaining with the Episcopal Church will end their three-day convention today at Church of the Saviour in Hanford.

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