BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- A bishop came to Bakersfield to talk about the division of the Episcopal Church over the appointment of a gay bishop.

In December 2007, numerous churches within the San Joaquin Archdiocese voted to leave the national church after a gay bishop was appointed.

Tuesday night, Bishop John-Davis Scofield from the San Joaquin Diocese told the congregation at St. Lukes that the church has not shut its doors on everyone, just those involved in ministry who don't live according to their interpretation of scripture.

“If there is someone of a homosexual orientation that wants to come to church, our doors are wide open,” said Schofield. “I would hope they would want to come. I would hope they would want to hear the word of God and that it would have a profound effect on them.”

The local church has an invitation to join the Providence of the Southern Cone.

But the diocese may face possible lawsuits over church property during the split.