Christ Church - Ministry Description

DIOCESE OF SAN JOAQUIN MINISTRY POSITION OPEN

VICAR—CHRIST CHURCH, LEMOORE, CA.

740 N. Nineteenth Ave., Lemoore, CA 93245

Located in the City of Lemoore, within the Fresno Deanery of the Diocese of San Joaquin, Christ Church is a mission with untapped potential. A little over 50 years old, Christ Church was founded to reach out to the farmers and naval airmen that were swarming to the area due to her rich farm land and the placement of carrier air wings at Naval Air Station, Lemoore. NAS Lemoore houses a portion of the famed "Top Gun" school, with her sister school in Fallon, NV. NAS Lemoore is home to around six thousand naval personnel who support the carrier air wings of the US Navy Pacific Command. The City of Lemoore has a population of nearly twenty-five thousand, with the primary economic engines being agriculture and the naval air station.

Christ Church is a mission of the Diocese of San Joaquin ( which is comprised of 43 congregations in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California. The Rt. Rev. Dr. Eric VawterMenees is the Vth Bishop of San Joaquin, succeeding the Rt. Rev. John-David Schofield in 2011. The Diocese of San Joaquin was the first diocese to leave the Episcopal Church, as a whole diocese, after two consecutive votes of Convention, with over 90% voting in favor of leaving the Episcopal Church. These votes took place in 2007 and 2008. In 2008, the Episcopal Church sued the Bishop and the Diocese. After five years of working its way through the courts, the trial began on January 6, 2014, and will have a judgment on or before June 16, 2014. The lawsuit has frozen the assets of the diocese—which total over seven million—and upon release they will be available again for ministry support to missions, both domestic and foreign.

As a result of these legal battles, Christ Church, like much of the diocese, has had a bit of a pall placed over her. But the end is in sight, and a new enthusiasm and excitement are starting to grip the diocese and Christ Church.

A few facts about the congregation

2013 ASA 33

29 pledges for a total of $90,000

2014 budget for the Vicar is $36,500 for total compensation with the hopes of having $50,000 in 2015.

Christ Church is debt free.

There are 42 family units in the congregation; of those, approximately 1/2 are recently retired professionals and 1/2 are working professionals—educators, law enforcement, agriculture, and small business owners.
There are several members of the congregation who were born and raised at Christ Church

The most recent Vicar was Fr. Bruce Taylor who served as Vicar of Christ Church and a civilian psychological counselor at NAS Lemoore. Fr. Taylor and his wife Nancy served Christ Church from 2008 to 2014 and left to take a position with the Veterans Administration working with homeless veterans along the coast in Ventura, California.

Physical Plant

Christ Church sits on a little over three acres at the corner of North 19th & Cinnamon in the northeast section of Lemoore.

The church holds approximately 100 worshipers and has a nice organ.

There are three offices, a Sunday School Room, a separate Nursery, and a Playground.

The Parish Hall has a small kitchen and can seat approximately 45ppl at tables for fellowship and educational events.

There is a detached garage, and the parking lot has 30 stalls, with lots of room to expand.

Adjacent to the physical plant are 2 acres on which a soccer field and large band stand are situated.

Ministries of Christ Church

God's Bread Box: Amonthly feeding of the hungry. In February, they obtained food, packed, and distributed 371 boxes of food—representing 371 families. Generally 20-30 volunteers from Christ Church and the community each month.

Stable House: The ministry of a parishioner to the homeless, who opens her home to people in need.

Anglican Church Women: A ministry to and among the women of Christ Church. This is a very active group of support, study, and service.

Weekly Women's Bible Study: A group of 6-8 women gather weekly in their homes to study the Word of God.

Fellowship: This a vital ministry at Christ Church, where the congregation reaches out to one another following worship on Sundays, and with regular pot-luck dinners.

Desire for Future Ministry

NAS Lemoore: Christ Church desires to reach out to the men and women of NAS Lemoore in significant ways that will both minister to the needs of the military personnel and draw people into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

Music Ministry: Christ Church has three acres of developed land with a band stand which, for many years, housed music festivals for Lemoore and the surrounding community. Christ Church would like to revive this ministry with different musical offerings.

Expressed desires for the new Vicar by the Bishop's Committee

He must be a...

Strong preacher, with the message of Grace

Strong pastor, willing to make hospital & home visits

Strong leader, willing to be active in the church and the community