In a historic decision this week signaling a unified faith among Anglican believers in the Pacific Northwest, seven Anglican congregations in Western Washington have come together to form The Diocese of Cascadia. The first Anglican diocese - the Diocese of the Southeast - was formed recently with 73 Anglican clergy and wardens in Jacksonville, Florida, under vicar general the Rev. Neil Lebhar.
Lay and clergy representatives from seven Anglican churches met March 7 at St. Barnabas Anglican Church in Shoreline, Washington, for the first Synod meeting of the new diocese, according to spokesman Mark Cutshall.
A formal application for membership as a diocese-in-formation has been sent to the newly formed Anglican Church in North America (ACNA).Founding congregations of The Diocese of Cascadia are: St. Barnabas; St. Paul's (Shoreline); St. Brendan's (Bellingham); St. Charles (Poulsbo); St. Peter's (Tacoma); St. Stephen's (Oak Harbor) and St. Ursula's (Sultan). An eighth parish, Trinity (Mt. Vernon), will hold a congregational vote Sunday, March 22.
Bishop Richard Boyce of the Reformed Episcopal Church (REC) has been elected Vicar General. It is hoped that this will ultimately become a geographical diocese encompassing Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska. In a letter to the diocese's lay and clergy leaders, the Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan, Bishop of Pittsburgh and Archbishop-Designate of the Anglican Church of North America wrote, "God has given all of us a gracious and undeserved gift in allowing us to be part of these momentous days of Anglican reformation and renewal in North America. It is my conviction that it is a gift with a purpose. I pray that as you discuss and vote on your provisional constitution and canons, you will also consider how you can function to support each other in proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ in word and deed."
The new Diocese of Cascadia is dedicated to living out the Great Commandment and Great Commission. The first annual Synod of the new diocese will adopt as its theme the mission of bringing the unchurched into fellowship with Jesus Christ and planting new churches.
In his sermon at the inaugural synod meeting, Fr. Kevin Bond Allen, newly elected president of the Diocesan Council and rector of St. Brendan's Anglican Church said, "We are not called to belong to a new organization or institution, but to be part of a great mission empowered by the Holy Spirit to make disciples of all people."
Diocese of Cascadia
"Our clergy are now collegial pastors of our Lord Jesus Christ, who can pray for, care for and support one another in our ministry together. Our lay members can now share their ministries with our brothers and sisters throughout the Pacific Northwest and know they will always have a worship home away from home in their travels." Acknowledging a sense of isolation "because of the divisions in our national church," Allen emphasized the timeliness of the new diocese. "I believe we are committing to unite that which has been too long divided, to revive a great mission whose seeds were planted on these Northwest shores centuries ago, to help our church's missionary outposts reach more people for Christ so that they may know His transforming power in their lives. Today, we are committing to an Anglican reawakening and to contributing to a Christian reawakening for a revival here in the Pacific Northwest." Founding members of the new diocese chose Cascadia, in part, because the Cascade Mountain range is a common geographical feature of the region.
"We are committing to unite as congregations whose dynamic worship and discipleship in the Word, in prayer and service nurtures faithful Christians who can reach out to others who are spiritually starving," said Allen.
In a March 9 online article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper, AP reporter Rachel Zoll said the Pacific Northwest has now been surpassed only by northern New England as the least religious region in the country. The Pacific Northwest has a longstanding tradition of being the most unchurched region in the U.S. Bishop Boyce said the formation of the new diocese will allow congregations to join directly into its jurisdiction, while still retaining membership with existing jurisdictions during the period of formation. Four congregations that are part of the Reformed Episcopal Church will still retain that relationship.
According to Boyce, the new Diocese of Cascadia has created the needed infrastructure-including incorporation in the state of Washington--to ultimately become a full diocese in the ACNA province. At the Synod, representatives elected Diocesan Council, Secretary, Treasurer, Provincial Representatives and a task force for the oversight of the Constitution and Canons. An application for the Federal Exemption for Non-Profit status has been filed.Clergy and congregations wishing to learn more can contact Al Lansdowne, 360-297-8519 home, 360-509-7664 cell, alansdowne@centurytel.net
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