Three Frequently Asked Questions

We are ecumenical and catholic. Some of our clergy are Protestant, some are Interfaith, some are Liberal Catholic.  Our congregation is ecumenical.  We follow the teachings of Jesus who even while dying on the cross opened his arms wide and shared his love with all creation. The church is a "family" and families have family trees. St. Grace Community Church is a branch that has embraced a liberal openness to all faiths. We open our arms wide to reach across human-made religious boundaries.

The Grace community is welcoming, inclusive, affirming, and socially progressive. We honor, admire, and respect the many commitments made by all persons of faith in their respective traditions, and are especially grateful to honor and follow the paths opened to the world by the gifts of Vatican II. As such, we welcome you as our brothers and sisters with open-hearts, open-arms, civility, kindness, and compassion. 

      “Have you an Apostolic Succession?  Unfold the line of your Bishops.” ~ Tertullian, 3rd Century  

 Apostolic Succession is the transmission of the spiritual gifts entrusted by Jesus the Christ to his original students (later called apostles) by the laying on of hands. These spiritual gifts have since been passed on throughout history by the act of consecration, the direct laying-on-of-hands, in an unbroken line from the apostles to their successors, bishop to bishop down to the present day.  

"Therefore, there exists a single Church of Christ, which subsists in the Catholic Church, governed by the Successor of Peter and by the Bishops in communion with him. The Churches which, while not existing in perfect communion with the Catholic Church, remain united to her by means of the closest bonds, that is, by apostolic succession and a valid Eucharist, are true particular Churches." 

Lumen Gentium: Pope Paul VI during Vatican II.

Bishop Linda Jarvis attended an interfaith seminary and was ordained as an Interfaith Pastor. Over many years of ministry service she deepened into her Christian roots while discerning a calling to the priesthood. She attended an Old Catholic seminary, and after years of study she was ordained to the diaconate and then to the priesthood. Years later, she was consecrated to the episcopate in apostolic succession, as is every other bishop in the Catholic Church.  As such she is one of many women bishops who like their brother bishops are ordained and consecrated in Apostolic Succession. Bishop Jarvis's apostolic lineage is unquestioned and affirmed as valid and recognized.

While Roman Catholic Church law finds that ordaining women to the diaconate and priesthood, and consecrating women to the episcopate to be valid but irregular, many Catholic jurisdictions and congregations including Anglicans, Lutherans, Old Catholics, Liberal Catholics, and Episcopalians are served by spirit-filled, hardworking, compassionate, intelligent women deacons and priests, and are served, directed, and led by compassionate, intelligent, pragmatic, highly-experienced and well-educated women bishops. 

Just as our brother deacons, priests, and bishops serve, we too are here to serve God's creation as willing and obedient servants in God's vineyard.

A service church is truly a diverse, inclusive,  welcoming, and affirming community of faith-filled believers in sacred activism and social justice.  We roll up our sleeves and work in God's vineyard, while sharing our faith, civility, respect, kindness, compassion, and acceptance of and with all. 

Our clergy and community voluntarily serve both traditional and non-traditional communities. Sharing worship with Homeless - Street communities, entering into weekly, multicultural, multifaith global prayer groups, managing web-design for low income faith-communities, making environmental rounds and cleaning streets, parks, and beaches, planting trees and flowers, caring for communities of unsheltered animals on a daily basis, and teaching seniors to read are just a few of the ways that members of St. Grace Community Church have manifested walking the talk of service in God's vineyard. Each act of service supports and strengthens all of creation.

Come, roll up your sleeves, join our community, and choose or create a specific ministry that calls to your heart and spirit. No matter your race, age, gender, social/marriage choices, finances, and health-status, we can all be of service to our Creator.