San Joaquin: Episcopal Church to perform same gender union blessings

By Kristina Hacker  June 7, 2011

As of Sunday, clergy in the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin — which includes St. Francis Episcopal Church of Turlock — may perform blessings of same gender civil unions and domestic partnerships.

The change in church policy was announced Tuesday by the diocese. The Rt. Rev. Chester Talton, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin, authorized "the clergy in the Diocese of San Joaquin (to) perform blessings of same gender civil marriages, domestic partnerships, and relationships which are lifelong committed relationships characterized by `fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect, careful, honest communication, and the holy love which enables those in such relationships to see in each other the image of God.' "

In Turlock, there have been no requests for same gender blessing ceremonies, said Rev. Kathryn Galicia of St. Francis Episcopal Church. But Galicia doesn’t foresee any negative responses within the congregation to the new church policy. the rest