Lay leaders at historic St. Simon’s Episcopal Church/Iglesia Episcopal de San Simón in San Fernando say they’re still in operation only by the grace of God — but surely they themselves are avenues for grace’s safe passage.
San Fernando is a carefully run city of 24,000 embraced by LA on all sides. Paula Abdul was born here; George Lopez went to San Fernando High School. Now occupying a beautiful building among a cluster of churches in the heart of town, St. Simon’s began its ministry in 1921. The site is expansive. The parish has a single-family home to rent out and is home to a third-party school and nesting church. They have money in the bank as well.
While revenue is strong, the leaders say attendance isn’t what it used to be. Nevertheless six came to be confirmed and received on Sunday when I visited to preach and preside at a festive bilingual service. Leaders talked about 60 coming every Sunday back in the salad days. Still, I’d say I helped serve communion to at least 45. Eric Rivera, visiting from Iglesia Episcopal de La Magdalena in Glendale, was my gracious chaplain.
After a delicious lunch and an impromptu blessing of mango trees on the lawn, vestry members, including senior and junior wardens Bertha and Antonio Godinez, and I joined in some blue-sky conversation with the St. Simon’s bishop in charge, the Rt. Rev. Naudal Alves Gomes. A former primate of Brazil, Bishop Naudal also serves at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Van Nuys. Though they wish they could see him every day, St. Simon’s’ leaders well understand that enjoying the ministry of such a brilliant, experienced cleric is more evidence of God’s abundant grace.
As for the future, we talked about affordable housing, evangelism, expanding the school, a new community music program, neighborhood presence and service, and intergenerational ministry, enabling better connection with the second and third generations of immigrant families. (San Fernando is over 90% Hispanic.) Perhaps the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles could do something to help parishes that are doing their best but can no longer afford associate rectors or curates (recently ordained priests who are keen for mentorship).
It’s a story being told at many other parishes where leaders have carefully conserved their resources. St. Simon’s folks love their church. They could go on as they are for years more. But they’re also wondering what God has in mind for them, and how they can leave the parish they love best equipped for the next generation of saints in a spiritually famished society and culture that will need The Episcopal Church more than ever.
Among those the Holy Spirit confirmed on Sunday at St. Simon’s was Leslye Miranda, raised in the Pentecostal tradition in El Salvador. In her church of origin, they loved Jesus with all their heart, but not all of Jesus’s people. Her love for Episcopal worship and equity is palpable. She has been reading “Jesus Era Episcopal” by my seminary buddy Chris Yaw. Maybe, maybe not. It would make a good subject for an adult education class, and Leslye is ready to lead it.
