SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — An Episcopal diocese in central California voted Saturday to split with the national denomination over disagreements about the role of gays and lesbians in the church.
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Clergy and lay members of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin voted 173-22 at their annual convention to remove all references to the national church from the diocese's constitution, the Rev. Van McCalister said.
The Fresno-based congregation is the first full diocese to secede because of a rift that began decades ago and is now focused on whether the Bible condemns gay relationships.
"We have leadership in the Episcopal Church that has drastically and radically changed directions,” McCalister said.
The decision is almost certain to spark a court fight over control of the diocese's multimillion-dollar real estate holdings and other assets.
The Fresno diocese had explored breaking ties with the American church since 2003, when Episcopalians consecrated the church's first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.
The diocese's holdings include 48 church buildings. Its total assets are worth millions, McCalister said.
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