St. James appoints new pastor from Va.

St. James Anglican Church named a new pastor this week after a yearlong search to find a new leader for the church that has been shrouded in four years of controversy.

The Rev. Richard C. Crocker will become the senior pastor of the 1,000-member congregation, coming from the Truro Anglican Church in Fairfax, Va. His work will officially begin in January 2009.

St. James has made headlines in recent years because of an ongoing battle due to its former connection to the Episcopal Church.

St. James severed that tie in 2004 after the Episcopal Church consecrated a gay bishop in 2003. St. James then made its affiliation with the Diocese of Luwero in the Anglican Province of Uganda.

St. James’ legal issues with the Episcopal Church continued after the Episcopal hierarchy laid claim to the church’s property.

A state appellate court ruled in favor of the Episcopal Church, but St. James filed a brief with the California Supreme Court in November 2007.

Crocker brings degrees from a number of universities to St. James, including a Master’s of Arts degree in theology from Wycliffe Hall at the University of Oxford, and a Bachelor’s of Science certificate in mathematics and physics from the University of Nottingham, England.

For more information on the church, go to www.stjamesnb.org.

NAME: The Rev. Richard C. Crocker

FAMILY: Wife, Caroline of 29 years, and four adult children.

RELIGIOUS HISTORY: Has been an ordained Anglican priest for 26 years and serves as the president of the U.S. chapter of the Evangelical Fellowship in the Anglican Communion.

EDUCATION: He received his mMaster’s of aArts in theology at Wycliffe Hall, University of Oxford, England, in 1982 and was president of the student body; he earned a postgraduate certificate in theology at Oxford University in 1983 with special study in Luther and Islam; and he received his bBachelor’s of sScience degree certificate in mathematics and physics — joint honors — from the University of Nottingham, England, in 1976.

DANIEL TEDFORD may be reached at (714) 966-4632 or at daniel.tedford@latimes.com.