Four Candidates for Episcopal Bishop to Speak at Forums

Four candidates vying to become bishop coadjutor and the eventual leader of the 85,000-member Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles will be presented in the first public forums at three churches next weekend.

The candidates will discuss their views on such issues as spiritual leadership, sexuality, cultural diversity, and effective ways to involve youths and laity in the church. The successful candidate, who will be elected at a Nov. 13 convention of more than 1,000 clergy and lay delegates, will first serve as an area bishop in one of the diocese’s six counties before eventually succeeding the Rev. Frederick H. Borsch.

The forums will be held at 1 p.m. Friday for clergy and 7 p.m. for laity at All Saints Church, 144 S. C St., Oxnard; at 9 a.m. next Saturday for clergy and 2 p.m. for laity at All Saints Church, 3847 Terracina Drive, Riverside; and at 2 p.m. Oct. 17 for clergy and laity at Cathedral Center of St. Paul, 840 Echo Park Ave., Los Angeles. (213) 482-2040.

SPEAKERS

Nationally known pastor Tony Campolo, President Clinton’s spiritual confidant and an evangelical critic of the Christian right, will offer his reflections on the past century in two lectures next week. The Philadelphia-based pastor has written 26 books and heads a ministry for at-risk urban youths and overseas educational and economic development. He will speak at 7 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. Monday at California Lutheran University, 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks. (805) 493-3151.

* The high cost of Jewish communal life will be discussed at a noon luncheon Wednesday at the University of Judaism, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles. Jonathan Woocher of the Jewish Education Service of North America will offer recommendations for making communal life more affordable and welcoming. (310) 440-1259.

* British priest and writer Jim Cotter will speak about the spiritual and social aspects of depression at 7 p.m. Thursday at All Saints Episcopal Church, 132 N. Euclid Ave., Pasadena. (626) 583-2737.

* Rabbi Nathan Lopes-Cardozo will speak on how the messianic era will heal the lack of inner tranquillity at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Yeshiva of Los Angeles, 9760 W. Pico Blvd. Admission is $5. (310) 772-2485.

EVENTS

Christ Chapel of Laguna will host its fifth annual conference exploring ways to reconcile Christianity and homosexuality Friday and next Saturday. Topics include how to obtain spiritual support, discover inner gifts, interpret the Bible and reconcile family. (714) 376-2099.

* Southern California Sikhs today will inaugurate a new gurdwara, or temple, with a procession featuring the holy Sikh scriptures, Guru Granth Sahib and a cavalcade of decorated cars. The procession will depart from 8302 Whitaker St. in Buena Park at 10 a.m. and arrive at the new temple at 7122 Orangethorpe Ave. at 10:30 a.m. (714) 739-9546.

* A training workshop for lay and ordained religious leaders will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood. The workshop is sponsored by the Southern California Assn. for Lay Empowerment and Development. Registration is $25. (310) 286-2144.

SERVICES

Hollywood Methodist Church will celebrate its 90th anniversary Sunday during the 11 a.m. service. Highlights include an interpretation of the church’s historic stained glass windows and a display of treasured church archives. The church is at 6817 Franklin Ave., Los Angeles. (323) 662-9941.

* Internationally renowned choral director Paul Salamunovich will celebrate his 50-year anniversary at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 10828 Moorpark St., North Hollywood, at a special 1 p.m. Mass on Sunday. The St. Charles Choir has performed for Pope John Paul II three times. (818) 766-3838.

* The West Hollywood Presbyterian Church, 7350 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, will commemorate the one-year anniversary of Matthew Shepard’s death at 11 a.m. Sunday. Shepard was tied to a fence and left to die in Wyoming in a suspected hate crime against gays. (323) 874-6646.

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