Saint James Anglican Church | |
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33°40′18″N 117°52′36″W / 33.67176°N 117.87679°WCoordinates: 33°40′18″N 117°52′36″W / 33.67176°N 117.87679°W | |
Location | 4121 Westerly Pl., Newport Beach, CA 92660 |
Country | United States |
Denomination | Anglican Church in North America |
Website | stjamesnb.org |
History | |
Founded | 1941 |
Administration | |
Diocese | Diocese of Western Anglicans |
Clergy | |
Rector | Rev. Richard Crocker |
St. James Anglican Church is a parish church in Newport Beach, California in the Diocese of Western Anglicans of the Anglican Church in North America. Since 2004, the church has received national attention over its legal case against the Episcopal Church, of which it was formerly a part, after it withdrawing from it and joining another Anglican province.
St. James was formed when the first Episcopal services were held in the Newport Harbor area, shortly after World War I. In 1941, the church was founded as a diocesan mission and in 1946 it was officially received as an Episcopal parish. Over the next three decades, the church grew and operated as an average Episcopal church. However, in 1974, the first charismatic Faith Alive service was held at St. James which was part of what is now known as the Convergence Movement. This eventually led to the three-pronged Sunday worship model, consisting of Rite I (traditional worship), Rite II (contemporary worship), and Charismatic, which continues to uniquely characterize St. James today.
Starting with the leadership of Fr. David Anderson in the 1990s, the church began to play an important role in the conservative wing of the Episcopal Church. In 1996, new administration, fellowship and education facilities were completed and in 2001, a new sanctuary was completed. In 2002, Anderson retired and currently serves as Rector Emeritus. He was succeeded by Rev. Praveen Bunyan in 2003.
Years of conflict over doctrinal and ideological differences with the Episcopal Church had led to a tense and frayed relationship. Under Bunyan's leadership, steps to disassociate with the Episcopal Church were initiated as a result of controversial decisions made at the General Convention in the summer of 2003, most notably, the confirmation of the first openly gay Episcopal bishop, Gene Robinson. In August 2004, this decision, along with other theological differences, led the rector, wardens, and vestry to vote overwhelmingly to disaffiliate with the Episcopal Church and to affiliate with the conservative Anglican Church of Uganda. A parish vote also supported the decision. St. James was soon joined in secession by All Saints Church in Long Beach and St. David's Church in North Hollywood. All three churches were then sued for their property by the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and the national Episcopal Church.