SUMMER DIOCESAN

MINI DIGEST

September 1, 2022

Upcoming Events:

Save the Date: Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will be visiting our diocese September 10-13. He will spend time with us in worship and fellowship, as well as be in conversation with our working groups and clergy. You can see the full schedule and learn more on our website

Diocesan Staff Office Hours:

Thursday at 1pm: Derek Moyer, join here.

Diocesan Calendar

Submit an event here

More on Discernment

“We are here to witness”. This is Annie Dillard’s simple but hard-earned insight in her essay “Teaching A Stone to Talk”. Dillard invites us to consider the complexity of listening to and witnessing God, during a time when most of us believe that God doesn’t really talk. She is asking, after the disenchantment of the world: where do we find God, where do we listen to God? Where in the world is God? How do I get there? “God used to rage at the Israelites for frequenting sacred groves. I wish I could find one.”

I hear in Dillard’s desire the desire of our own church and of our own world. We are in a moment in our life in the church where it can feel sometimes very hard to listen to God. Some of the deeply furrowed habits of our tradition and of our listening life together have been and are being disrupted by changes in our social life that interrupt and short-circuit deep listening and responding in community. The pandemic has laid bare some habits and practices in our church that don’t allow us to witness, to listen, to respond, in ways that we once did. Old community-sustaining structures have in many cases been disintegrating for a long time. Like Dillard’s sacred groves, deep community can be hard to find right now. The kind of community where we feel safe, being known by each other in our vulnerability, where we feel seen and where we know we belong. Deep community is what is described in the baptismal covenant. It is an invitation to an intimate life with others grounded in the faithful practices of our tradition. It is the life into which we are all invited, together. We are here to witness.

To witness and to discern are closely related practices. To witness is both to be present to the revelation of a truth and to testify to it, to speak to it, to point it out for and with others. Both practices require a vulnerable commitment to deep listening. Listening to God, listening to one another, listening to the world. Because we must listen deeply in all of these spaces if we are to discern God’s call to us in this place right now.

In September, we will invite folks to consider joining one of our new Diocesan Discernment Communities, which begin in January. More information will be communicated via the Digest, the website, and through a series of information sessions that will be offered this fall. The practices of these communities are intended to provide a consistent, church-wide space for us to listen, to witness, to discern where God is calling us as a church, and where God is calling me as a part of this church. As an important reminder, these discernment communities are open to ALL discerners, and are not designed specifically for those discerning for orders. (Those discerning for orders will attend additional discernment.)

We are all called to patiently put our ear to the ground; we are all invited into the radical practice of deep listening. We are here to witness.

Derek Moyer

Missioner for Lifelong Formation

Presiding Bishop to Visit Oregon

Next Weekend!

We are looking forward to welcoming Presiding Bishop Michael Curry to the Diocese of Oregon next Saturday, September 10. He will be with us through Monday, September 12. His visit will take him from Portland to Lincoln City and end in Eugene. To learn more about his trip go to our website: diocese-oregon.org/presiding-bishop-visit

Online reservations for the events during Presiding Bishop’s visit will be accepted through September 5th:

On the evening of September 11 at 5:30 pm, OPB’s Geoff Norcross will interview Bishop Akiyama and Presiding Bishop Curry at the Parish of St. John the Baptist on the Oregon Episcopal School (OES) campus. This event is open to the public and will be livestreamed. A reception will follow in the new OES gymnasium. If you would like to attend in person, please RSVP here – space is limited.

Submitting Questions for the Bishop and Presiding Bishop Interview

We are also still gathering questions from across the diocese that will help form the Q&A session after the full interview. If you would like to submit a question, please fill out this form. Please note: your question may not be asked exactly as it is worded and we will try to join similar questions.

A second event is for the clergy of our Diocese only. This event will take place on Monday, September 12 at 6:00 pm. Please register for that event here.

INFORMATION REGARDING THE

ANNUAL MEETING OF DIOCESAN CONVENTION

The Annual Meeting of the Diocesan Convention will take place on Saturday, October 29 on Zoom. Registration information will be sent to delegates and a livestream will be available on our website.

Proposed resolutions for the Convention may be seen in full by clicking the link after each title.

Resolution: Official Youth Presence - English

Resolution: Diocesan and Parish-Level Response to the Urgent Issues of Climate Change and Environmental Justice - English

Resolution: Supporting Oregon's 2022 Statewide Measure 114 Regarding Gun Violence - English

Spanish translations of the resolutions will be available and posted soon.

Also, the quarterly Diocesan Investment Reports are now available for viewing on the website and may be found here:

CHANGES IN CUSTODY

OF DIOCESAN INVESTMENT PROGRAMS

The Diocesan Investment Committee and the Board of Trustees have approved a change of bank custodians for Diocesan Investment Programs.

Fifth Third Bank, Cincinnati, Ohio will replace US Bank this fall.
Stakeholders are expected to receive concise monthly statements, all at a reduced cost versus our current custodial bank.
It is expected that the August and September account statements will be the final statements from US Bank.
We expect a smooth transition during September, 2022.
We will provide more details as we receive them.

Entities of the Diocese with accounts in the Diocesan Investment Fund, Socially Responsible Investment Fund, and Short Term Investment Fund should continue to contact Diocesan Finance Office staff accountant, Meron Yimesgen, at 971-204-4120 or merony@diocese-oregon.org for any account changes, contributions or withdrawals, and any changes in their entity’s leadership.

A letter with full details and additional instructions will be mailed to all stakeholders soon.

Rick Grimshaw, Diocesan Treasurer – treasurer@diocese-oregon.org

WORKING GROUP ON RACIAL JUSTICE

FALL 2022 SPEAKER SERIES

Conversations about the Work:

What Calls Us to Work for Racial Justice?

September 14 at 6:00pm live on Zoom: Reverend Rick Britton, Member of the Beloved Community: The Diocesan Commission for Racial Reconciliation for the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee.

November 9 at 6:00pm live on Zoom: Dr. Linda Tamura, Professor Emerita of Education, Willamette University. Linda is involved in projects and organizations educating and celebrating the history of Japanese Americans in Oregon.

To see the full announcement click here. For more information, email diocesecter@gmail.com.

3rd Annual Great EpisGOpal Race

Registration is open for the third annual Great EpisGOpal Race, September 3-11. Proceeds from this fundraiser will support the United Thank Offering (UTO) Ingathering and Episcopal Migration Ministries’ (EMM) Neighbor to Neighbor program. Neighbor to Neighbor trains and provides supports to faith communities who serve as community sponsors for asylum seekers or Afghan arrivals.

Participants can register for $15, choosing their preferred mode (run, bike, swim, hike, paddle board, martial arts, etc.), distance, and type of race, including a 1-mile fun run, 5K, 10K, half-marathon, marathon, and “choose your own adventure.” Learn more and register here.

DIOCESAN EVENTS AND UPDATES

Changes to Safe Church Requirements & Process

Please see updates to Safe Church requirements and process on our website. Please direct questions about Safe Church to safechurch@diocese-oregon.org

The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS) Resources

Register for the free TENS webinar focusing on fall campaigns. This year’s theme is “More Than Enough - Maximizing the TENS Resources for 2022 Campaigns.” There are many more annual pledge and other stewardship resources available to congregations on The Episcopal Network for Stewardship's website. Find out more on their website here. To access their extensive library of resources, you will need a password; this year it is Luke9:17.

A Call to Artists

Chrysalis - Spreading Our Wings

A gathering of artistic expressions from Episcopal Churches of Western Oregon

Art will be displayed Nov 20 – Feb 5 2023 at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland. Approximately 30 juried pieces will be selected for this art exhibition. All original art mediums will be accepted. Prudence Roberts will be the guest curator.

You may find complete submission requirements here.

Fall Iconography Classes

Trinity Iconography Institute is in its 26^th year offering instruction in the sacred liturgical art of Iconography. Students in our program begin by writing the Holy Face of Christ, as Christ underlies every icon, completing it in 14 weeks. No prior art experience is required. Come join us this fall!

If making "art" seems intimidating, you may be reassured by the knowledge that icons are painted prayer. You will find more specific information here. Click on the CLASSES tab and scroll down for this fall's offerings.

TODAY WE PRAY FOR...

In our Diocesan Cycle of Prayer:

Albany: St. Alban - Bob Morrison, Vicar; Peggy Bernhard, Deacon
Ashland: Trinity - Janell Monk, Interim Rector; Bert Anderson, Assisting Priest; Meredith Pech, Deacon; Mary Piper, Jan Holland - Clergy
Astoria: Grace - Carren Sheldon, Rector

In the Anglican Communion Cycle of Prayer:

The Diocese of Minnesota – The Episcopal Church (VI (6) Province)

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Administrative Assistant - Diocesan Center

This is a full-time Administrative Assistant position which reports to the Bishop and works closely with the Executive Assistant to the Bishop. This Administrative Assistant also provides administrative support to the Missioner for Thriving Congregations and the Missioner for Lifelong Formation and general administrative support for the Diocesan Center. The full position description may be found here.

Full-Time Rector - St. Barnabas, McMinnville

We seek a full-time rector to walk with us, guide us, help us realize our untapped potential, grow and strengthen areas we as a congregation do well, and work with us to identify new opportunities to do God’s work in our church and community. To view the full position description, click here.

Full-Time Rector - St. Michael & All Angels, Portland

St. Michael & All Angels/San Miguel y Todos los Ángeles Episcopal Church in Portland, Oregon, seeks a new full-time rector. We are a vibrant and healthy faith community with four beautiful weekly services in Spanish and English, a deep commitment to inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people in all areas of leadership and ministry, numerous neighborhood outreach programs and advocacy ministries, a dynamic music program, and passionate lay members who care deeply for one another and our community. Click here for the position description and link to the Parish Profile.

Parish Manager - Grace Memorial

The Parish Manager at Grace Memorial is a full-time position supervised by the Rector. The Parish Manager works closely with the Rector, the Wardens, the Treasurer, and others to manage the business of the parish. The full position description may be found here.

Director of Music Ministries - All Saints, Hillsboro

All Saints in Hillsboro, Oregon is seeking a part-time (6-8 hours/week) Director of Music Ministries. The Director's primary job will be to play the organ and revive and direct our choir at our 10 am Sunday service. Additionally, this person will select hymns and other worship songs each week in collaboration with the Rector, will submit and work with our music budget, and will oversee any repair and maintenance of our Rogers 905 Classic digital organ. View the full description here.

Maintenance Manager/Sexton - St. Gabriel the Archangel, Portland

The position is responsible to the Junior Warden and rector. The Sexton works with the Junior Warden who oversees the maintenance of the church, building, equipment, furnishings and grounds.

To see further details please visit our website.

Visit our website

Employment Opportunities

Online Giving