Episcopal group returns home

St. John’s Episcopal congregation returned home this month, and Sunday marked a full-circle journey.

Visiting Bishop Barry L. Beisner presided over a choral service and the baptism of baby Cali Ann Louise Joyce.

“There are world struggles, changes, challenges and gifts,” Beisner reminded the congregation Sunday. “Amazing grace, and here we are. It’s not the end; only the next step in the journey. We have arrived in this place, and now (have) the additional gift to serve.”

For St. John’s, June marked the return of church members to the historic Fifth Street church after a 21⁄2-year odyssey to re-establish its legal right to regain the building and the majority of its $450,000 outreach endowment.

In December 2006, members of the original congregation split from St. John’s Episcopal Church as part of a larger national break by conservative congregations over same-sex blessings, ordination of a gay bishop and the authority of Scripture. The breakaway St. John’s Anglican Church continued meeting in the church, an 1890 shingled sanctuary and rectory.

The remaining Episcopal members re-formed under the Rev. Norman Cram, who came out of retirement to conduct services — first in a parishioner’s living room and later at Elim Lutheran Church.

A settlement recently was reached with St. John’s Anglican congregation after a unanimous California Supreme Court ruling involving churches in a similar situation in Southern California.

“To be back home means we can reach outside of our border to the community of Petaluma,” said Cram. “Currently, we have been exploring areas in which there are vacuums in ministry.”

“I think the congregation is counting on us to provide an atmosphere of love and acceptance, as well as a message of hope during these tough times,” he added. “There have been rapid changes in our culture, and we think we can provide a safe place for all people wishing to worship.”

Church member John Mills echoed this sentiment.

“Our first priority ... is to make sure everyone in the Petaluma area knows that the Episcopal church is back and will have its doors open to all who want to attend and worship here,” he said.

“It is especially important,” Mills added, “that the hundreds of previous members know all are welcome and will be embraced when they return to St. John’s. Hopefully, no one will ever feel uncomfortable in this church community again.”

The congregation may be experiencing a return of parishioners who attended decades ago, as well as worshipers attending St. John’s for the first time.

“We are seeing additional members,” Cram added. “Many of them read (the news) articles and have said, ‘I’d like to give this a shot’ and (now) they are worshipping with us.”

The 200-member Anglican congregation now meets Sundays at the Petaluma Community Center in Lucchesi Park, offering traditional worship service at 8:30 a.m. and a contemporary family worship service at 10:30 a.m. It is seeking a permanent home.

“We have searched and looked at more property than you can shake a stick at,” the Rev. David Miller said. “We’re just settling down now, and not hunting that aggressively ... until we step back and take a breath.”

Episcopalian parishioner and church board member Betty Petrillo reflected on the years without a home.

“We have definitely focused on making sure, from day-one out of my living room, that the Episcopal Church is alive and well in Petaluma. It has been our desire throughout (this time) to continue the congregation. Being back in the church makes us feel that God really had his hand in it,” she said.

“We have gained so many friends we wouldn’t have found otherwise,” Petrillo said. “We started an outreach while at Elim Lutheran, and couldn’t have had a happier second home. They have been an inspiration to us.”

Pastor Cram described his church’s outreach program.

“We participate in the mobile food pantry serving food to needy families on Tuesday evenings, and we are exploring the possibility of ramping up, in particular, that part of the ministry,” he said.

Cram said he would like to hear directly from Petaluma residents.

“I ask the community to hold us accountable. To walk the talk of Christianity. I would love to hear your ideas,” he said.

Cram will remain acting pastor as the congregation begins its formal search for a new rector, and can be reached at 364-7106.

(Contact Liz Watson at argus@arguscourier.com)