Bishop LaBelle Archives

Bishop LaBelle’s Statement on the Los Angels Fires

Dear Beloved People of Olympia, The images and stories coming out of Los Angeles this week have been overwhelming. I’m sure many of you like me have family or friends in the area and have been both horrified and offering prayers. Earlier this week it was reported that an Episcopal Church in Altadena was destroyed, and Bishop John Harvey Taylor has updated us of the devastation being experienced and of the deep hope in God’s grace and goodness. First, I

Christmas 2024: A Message from Bishop LaBelle

Greetings, Diocese of Olympia. I’m here in what will become our chapel space in Diocesan House. It’s the old library here in the mansion and something that has been under construction. When I first imagined doing a Christmas video for you, I was hoping to have a nice tree set up nearby and looking all perfect in this space and yet here we are, under construction. Often we hear from our culture about how perfect Christmases can be. We get

Advent 2024: A Message from Bishop LaBelle

Greetings, Diocese of Olympia. The holiday season is upon us. You know this, of course, because it’s been upon us since probably early October when at least I first saw those holiday M&Ms in their red-and-green variety encouraging me to buy them even before the Halloween candy was gone. And yet here we are just beginning this season of Advent, of watching and waiting as we prepare for the coming of the Christ child again and as we prepare for

Transgender Day of Remembrance 2024: A Message from Bishop LaBelle

Dear Beloved of the Diocese of Olympia, As we observe Transgender Day of Remembrance, we are called to hold in our minds and to pray for those around in our world whose lives have been cut short due to their gender identity. This year they number at least 350 people across the globe—recognizing that there were likely more fatalities that remained unreported. They were killed simply because of how they expressed themselves. A parishioner and mother of an elementary school

Fear Not: Embracing the Call to Love – An Election Message from Bishop LaBelle

Fear Not: Embracing the Call to Love – An Election Message from Bishop LaBelle Hello, beloved friends of the Diocese of Olympia. We’re just a couple of days away from our national election. And throughout this season, we’ve been fraught by a lot of divisiveness, of fear and anxiety. I hear this both on the news but also in my times out on visitations with all of you. I’ve been asked again and again, “What will happen if…” With the

Bishop LaBelle’s Convention Address at the 114th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia

Come dear Christ and be among us, helping us to heed your invitation to draw near to you and receive your healing touch. Amen. Diocese of Olympia, you made it! After the resignation of Bishop Greg Rickel over two years ago, being shepherded by Provisional Bishop Melissa Skelton over 18 months, conducting an intentional and Spirit-led 14 month search process followed by a quick 4 months between election and consecration, and now with 42 days since Holy Cross Day—but really,

Bishop LaBelle’s Seating Sermon: Sunday, September 15, 2024

Bishop LaBelle’s Seating Sermon Catherine of Genoa — John 15:5-17 Back in the era when I took the General Ordination Exams—or “GOEs,” for those in the know—the last part of the four day written exam was often called “Coffee Hour Questions.” This closed book section was used to see if the ordinand had the chops to answer difficult questions from parishioners wanting to stump the chump all while sipping a cup of joe. My seminary classmates and I scoured previous

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Philip N. LaBelle Ordained and Consecrated Ninth Bishop of Olympia

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Philip N. LaBelle was ordained and consecrated as the ninth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia on Saturday, September 14, at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, Washington. LaBelle leads nearly 26,000 Episcopalians in more than 100 worshiping communities across Western Washington. The Most Rev. Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop for the Episcopal Church, served as the chief consecrator. Co-consecrators were Bishop-Provisional in the Diocese of Olympia, The Most Rev. Melissa Skelton; Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese

A Conversation with the Newly Elected Episcopal Bishop of Olympia and the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church

The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, The Most Rev. Michael Curry, and the Bishop-Elect of the Diocese of Olympia, The Rev. Dr. Philip N. LaBelle, led a conversation today with a small group of community leaders in Bellevue, Washington, that focused on issues facing communities in Western Washington, and the grassroots work that is underway led by the Episcopal church, particularly around homelessness and housing affordability. The gathering was on the eve of the ordination and consecration of LaBelle,

The Ordination and Consecration of The Rev. Dr. Philip N. LaBelle

The Bishop Transition Committee invites all to attend the Ordination and Consecration of The Rev. Dr. Philip N. LaBelle. See the invitations to these blessed services, to take place at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, WA on Saturday, September 14, 2024, linked below. Please see the FAQ page, which includes a full schedule and hotel information. More transition information is available below. Please direct your questions to bishoptransition@ecww.org. GENERAL INVITATION CLERGY INVITATION Live-Stream A live-stream of the Ordination and Consecration

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