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Calif. Diocese Splits From Episcopal Church

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Dec 8, 2007 1:45 pm US/Central

Calif. Diocese Splits From Episcopal Church

First Full Diocese To Secede Because Of Rift Over Gay Policy

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ― 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.

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, according to spokeswoman Joan Gladstone.

San Joaquin is the first full diocese to secede because of a conservative-liberal rift that began decades ago and is now focused on whether the Bible condemns gay relationships.

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