Clergy Transitions in the Diocese of Olympia
It is a time of transition within our Diocese, and we have a new clergy transition to announce. The Rev. Elizabeth Riley is delighted to join the people of St. Dustan’s, Shoreline, as their interim beginning April 1. She began her ministry in the Diocese of Alaska, where she was raised and ordained. Elizabeth received…
Bishop Skelton’s 2024 Chrism Mass Sermon
The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is…
Holy Week 2024: A Message from Bishop Skelton
Greetings, People of the Diocese of Olympia: The universe is made of stories, not of atoms. Muriel Rukeyser After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world. Philip Pullman We, you and I, are right at the beginning of listening again to the central story we’ve been given as…
Updates from the Bishop’s Task Force on Homelessness
From Don Fornoff, The Bishop’s Task Force on Homelessness: The Washington State Legislature has finished its 2024 session work. Some specific bills were passed to help with the homelessness situation, but the main bill (HB 2114) to prevent it was quashed. That was rent stabilization. It was killed by the moneyed interests in real estate….
Cathedral Day 2024
Cathedral Day is a “family reunion” for Episcopalians from across western Washington. It’s a time for connecting across congregations and experiencing all your cathedral has to offer. This year’s Cathedral Day celebrates the idea of pilgrimage, with Saint Mark’s serving as your sacred destination. Our Christian tradition holds dear the spiritual practice of making pilgrimages…
Updates from the Bishop’s Task Force on Homelessness
From Don Fornoff, The Bishop’s Task Force on Homelessness: We, the members of the Task Force, gather monthly to share ideas and to map out some possible activities all up and down the vast expanse of the Diocese of Olympia. We are all volunteers, so actions take place as we are able to take part. …
Staff Transitions in the Office of the Bishop
It is a time of transition within our Diocese, and we have a transition to announce in the Office of the Bishop. The Office of the Bishop is pleased to announce The Rev Ivar Hillesland as Acting Canon for Congregational Development and Leadership Formation. In this half-time position, the Acting Canon will oversee congregational development,…
The Joint Board for Bishop Transition Announces Preliminary Slate of Bishop Nominees
The Joint Board for Bishop Transition in the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia is pleased to announce that, after receiving the recommendations of the Bishop Search Committee, we have approved a preliminary slate of nominees for the Ninth Bishop of the Diocese of Olympia. The Reverend Phil LaBelle The Reverend Doctor Hillary D. Raining The Venerable…
Updates from the Bishop’s Task Force on Homelessness
From Don Fornoff, Bishop’s Task Force on Homelessness: The Bishop’s Task Force on Homelessness has been concentrating on advocacy for the past month, and now we’re in the home stretch of the Legislature’s 60-day session. We who are serious about affordable housing and the unhoused must keep up a fast pace to ensure some bills…
Congregation Leadership Conference
April 6, 10:00 am | Online Join other clergy and congregational leaders for the Congregation Leadership Conference – a combination of plenary sessions and breakout workshops on such topics as: Volunteer Leadership; Leadership Description and Roles (Wardens, Treasurers, Vestries/Bishop’s Committees, Clergy); Different Models of Being Congregations; Narrative-Based Budgeting: Connecting Money and Mission; Stewardship and Use…