Bishop delivers "healing" message

National Episcopal leader uses Riverbank pulpit to comfort splintered diocese
By INGA MILLER

March 31, 2008

RIVERBANK -- The national leader of the Episcopal Church preached a message of healing on Sunday at Christ the King Community Episcopal Church.

The sermon by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, leader of 2.4 million Episcopalians, came a day after the church's leadership met in Lodi to replace the nation's first breakaway bishop.

It installed Jerry A. Lamb, retired bishop of Northern California, to replace Bishop John-David Schofield, who in December led the Diocese of San Joaquin to leave the ECUSA and come under the authority of the Anglican Communion in South America. The split was sparked by the 2003 ordination of a gay bishop and over the interpretation of Scripture. The Anglican Communion is the worldwide body; the Episcopal Church is the U.S. branch of the church.