Episcopal Diocese of San Diego

Specialties

We are a diverse community committed to living out the message of Jesus Christ. This message is one of hope for the oppressed, love for the outcast, home for the alien, and peace for all people.

We strive to build relationships across ideological, political and socio-​economic divides as a way responding to Jesus’ call to love our neighbors as ourselves.

We believe in God’s redeeming love through the person of Jesus Christ. We value human relationships above all else as reflected by the incarnation of God in the body and person of Jesus.

We embrace the awe and mystery of God through traditional liturgy while being open to the movement of the Holy Spirit to experience new forms of expression.

We are rooted in the ancient church and our eyes and hearts look to the future.

We welcome all people to experience the love of God.

History

Established in 1973.

The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego was founded in 1973, over 100 years after the first Episcopal service took place in this region. The area which currently makes up the Diocese of San Diego stretches from Sun City to the Mexican border, from the Pacific Ocean to Yuma, Arizona. Until 1975, this was part of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles.

The Rt. Rev. James R. Mathes was ordained and consecrated as the fourth Bishop of San Diego in 2005. His ministry focuses on developing vibrant congregations that are missional centers for the wider community, building up the care and service ministries of the diocese, and teaching the faith in congregations and beyond.

The diocese today consists of 47 churches and over 22,000 members across San Diego County, Imperial County, southern Riverside County and Yuma County, Arizona. The San Diego diocese is a part of the greater Episcopal Church which has 110 dioceses in 16 nations and is a member province of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Meet the Manager

James M.

Manager

Bishop Mathes brings to the diocese an uncommon mix of pastoral ministry and nonprofit administration experience. Before entering seminary, he worked in educational development where he helped raise more than $ 10 million for The Webb School, his alma mater, and directed a successful $ 4.2 million campaign for St. Andrew’s-Sewanee, an Episcopal school in Sewanee, Tennessee.

His passion for education and personal growth transferred to a passion for parish life when he became rector of The Episcopal Church of St. James-​the-​Less in Northfield, Illinois. During his seven years there, church attendance doubled, school participation tripled and the congregation founded a community outreach program for the elderly and disabled.

In 2001, he secured a $ 1.6 million grant from the Lilly Endowment to establish a clergy mentoring program.

On November 13, 2004, Jim was elected to serve as the fourth bishop of San Diego and was consecrated in March 2005.