June 25, 2010
By Pat McCaughan

Jack Plummer isn't expecting fireworks but rather a "sweet, sweet spirit" July 4 when parishioners resume worship for the first time in more than three years at St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Oceanside, California.

"I'm overjoyed," said Plummer, 48, now that the keys to the church property – which had been held by a breakaway group since September 2006 – have been returned to the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego.

"We never left St. Anne's even though we met in other places and (another group) had illegal possession – our hearts and minds were always here," said Plummer, who is the acting senior warden and acting parish secretary. "All week people have been stopping by to see the church, to sit inside, to pray, to give thanks."

San Diego bishop James Mathes invited the entire diocesan community "to celebrate Independence Day and the return of the Episcopal Church to St. Anne's, Oceanside" at a 10 a.m. Eucharist on Sunday, July 4 at which he will preach and preside.

The service will celebrate the end of three years of litigation and resolution of a property dispute and signal the start of future ministry, Mathes said in a June 23 email to the diocesan community.

"While the work of rebuilding this, and other congregations, will continue, we can give thanks for the significant resolution to this painful process," he said in the statement.

"Needless to say, I continue to grieve those who chose to leave the Episcopal Church and our diocesan fellowship; we still count them as brothers and sisters in Christ," wrote Mathes." We pray that they will find the spiritual church home they seek. We firmly believe that we are one church in ways that we cannot see, but God blesses."

Former St. Anne's members had cited theological differences and disaffiliated from the diocese and the Episcopal Church in 2006 but sought to retain property and assets.

After a San Diego court ruled that the property was held in trust for the mission and ministry of the diocese and the Episcopal Church, the dissident group was ordered to turn over the keys. In January they began worshipping as Grace Anglican Church at the Carlsbad Community Church in Carlsbad, California.

The keys were handed over June 4, said Julie Young, diocesan treasurer. "It was in good shape," Young said of the condition of the church. "It was clear that the people whose possession it was in had taken good care of it."

St Anne's was one of three congregations held by dissident groups. St. John's Church in Fallbrook was returned last year. Holy Trinity Church in Ocean Beach has legally been returned; the diocese is negotiating a lease to allow the group to continue using the property through the end of this year, Young said.

Plummer said there is already a sense of reconciliation. "When we came in several days ago, the previous folks had left little slips of paper with prayers for us. I think the step towards healing all parties has begun."

The Rev. Joe Rees, Grace's rector, acknowledged that step. "We left notes for the folks that come after us, to say it's been a wonderful place to worship God," he said in a telephone interview June 24.

"Each person remembered in some way some of the life celebrations they had in that place," Rees added. "From our standpoint, people have said they're no longer grieving. We're moving into a future of great joy. We wish all the folks there well. We love them and care for them and have no grievance at all with them."

Ann E. Gregg said she joined St. Anne's in 1993 but left in 2004 when church leadership changed direction. Since then she visited several congregations. "I call it my time of wandering in the wilderness," Gregg said June 24. Now she's happy to be returning and is looking toward the future.

"We are ecstatic to begin worshipping in our buildings again," Gregg added. "I'm in charge of the altar guild, and the building and grounds and it is such a joy to be back working in the holy earth there. We look forward to building the Christian community in Oceanside again."

Plummer agreed. "The Israelites spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness. We hope we're on an accelerated track," he joked about resuming ministry at the West Street church.

"People have been showing up daily, cleaning and pruning the memorial rose garden, and trimming overgrowth." A work party is scheduled for Saturday, July 26, he added.

"Everyone is excited. It's a marvelous, marvelous spirit," he said. "We had a group that walked blocks around the church handing out flyers to invite everyone to come on July 4. We pray to God we can start rebuilding."

St. Anne's was founded in 1888. Two years later, the congregation purchased a paint shop on Mission Avenue and Coast Highway for $400 for what would become the modern church, located at 701 West Street in Oceanside.

The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego encompasses 50 congregations in San Diego, Imperial and Riverside counties in California and Yuma County, Arizona.

Gregg also looked forward to future ministry. "I've been chomping at the bit to get back all this time and I'm back," she said.

"As much as I love being back in these buildings and on these grounds, we have to fill them up," said Gregg. "Some of the best memories of my life are there. I was with wonderful people and it was great and I want to feel that again there. I want people to know how wonderful it can be."

Episcopal News Service