Diocesan Convention
We gather annually in late October or early November in Diocesan Convention to worship God, connect with each other, and conduct the business of the diocese, including elections, the budget, and resolutions. The bishop presides at Convention. This year’s convention will take place in Salem, beginning with workshops on the evening of October 24th and adjourning midday on October 26th.
For more information, including the agenda and the business to be considered, please visit the diocesan convention website: https://convention.diocese-oregon.org/
Governing Bodies
There are three governing bodies in the Diocese of Oregon that help lead, oversee, and manage the diocese between Conventions. The Bishop is active in all three governing bodies.
The Board of Trustees governs the Diocesan Corporation, including having fiduciary responsibility for the funds and property. The Bishop is a member of the Board of Trustees.
The Diocesan Council oversees the mission and ministry of the diocese, including creating the annual budget. The Bishop is a member of the Diocesan Council.
The Standing Committee’s primary responsibility is to serve as a Council of Advice for the Bishop. Additionally, they have certain enumerated responsibilities related to other matters, such as ordinations, the search for a new bishop, consent for episcopal elections, and certain matters related to Diocesan property and the formation of new parishes.
Cuernavaca Companion Relationship
The Diocese of Oregon maintains a companion relationship with the Diocese of Cuernavaca in Mexico, supporting each other in ministry. Several parishes have parish link relationships, and representatives of the dioceses have visited each other. The Diocese of Cuernavaca hosts a language school that many members have visited to improve their Spanish skills, learn more about Mexican culture, and build relationships with fellow Anglicans across the Communion.
Camping
We care deeply about nature and the outdoors in Oregon and one of the ways to enjoy nature is through our camping ministry. We currently work in partnership with the Oregon-Idaho Conference of the United Methodist Church, which has an extensive network of six camps and conference centers across Oregon. Not only are there camps for children and youth, but retreats for adults as well. We have two Episcopal focused camps for children and youth each summer: Episcopal Week and Latino Youth Camp, both at Suttle Lake. More information available here: https://www.diocese-oregon.org/ministries/camping-news/
Latino Ministry
Latino Ministry has been a vital part of our diocese for over 30 years. You can find Spanish-speaking or Spanish/English bilingual congregations or services at 10 of our parishes with two more anticipated to start this fall. The diocesan budget supports a Canon for Latino Ministries and two regional missioners. All three of these priests are part-time with the diocese and part-time in parishes. Additionally, the canon and missioners are joined by priests, deacons, and lay people throughout the diocese in support Latino ministries. Recently, the Latino ministries joined at the Cathedral for Dias de Bienvenida. To learn more about Latino Ministry in the diocese, check out the diocesan website: https://www.diocese-oregon.org/ministries/latino-ministries/
Integrity
Integrity has been a vital part of our diocese for many years, helping work for the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in the church and the world. Integrity was active in bringing marriage equality to the Diocese of Oregon. Currently, Integrity is actively working to get Episcopal Churches involved in annual Pride Festivals and networking clergy and laity across the diocese. More information is available here: https://www.diocese-oregon.org/ministries/integrity/
Campus Ministries
Along with some outreach from local parishes to colleges across the state, we have three centers of Diocesan campus ministry: Eugene, Corvallis, and Portland. Each is doing valuable ministry for and with college students in their particular contexts. The Episcopal Campus Ministry house at the University of Oregon serves UO students, along with students from other nearby colleges and universities. Along with a house for students to live and worship in, the campus ministry runs a food pantry for students that is open two day per week. Canterbury House at Oregon State University helps build community and relationship and offers a respite for students from their busy academic schedules. Beloved Community on Campus creates space and opportunities for dialogue for students across Portland to foster communities of reconciliation, healing, and justice.
To learn more about our work with college students, please visit https://www.diocese-oregon.org/ministries/formation-ministry/pmecm/
The Academy for Formation and Mission
The Academy for Formation and Mission offers low-cost, nearby formational programs for deacons, priests, and lay leaders. The Academy offers multiple courses every semester. Courses are often held near Portland, but occasionally courses are held in other locations around Western Oregon. More information available here: https://www.diocese-oregon.org/ministries/formation-ministry/academy-for-formation-and-mission/
Oregon Episcopal School
Oregon Episcopal School (OES) is a highly regarded private K-12 school with boarding and day options for high schoolers. OES grew out of the previous St. Helen’s Hall, an all-girls school, and Bishop Dagwell Hall, an all boys school. The Bishop of Oregon serves as chair of the Board of Trustees and the school is closely associated with St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church. More information is available here: https://www.oes.edu
William Temple House
Named for Archbishop William Temple, who had a commitment to social justice, William Temple House is an Episcopal social service agency in Portland. They provide counseling, social services, and spiritual care to those in need. For more information, please check out their website here: http://www.williamtemple.org
Hospitals: Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center and Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center
The Diocese of Oregon maintains chaplaincy relationships with two hospitals we helped found in Portland and Corvallis, including seats on the Board of Directors of both organizations.
Prison Ministry
Prison Ministry is run by Episcopal prison chaplains in the diocese who are focused on three things: mercy, hospitality, and justice. Mercy involves work like supporting the needs of inmates and their families. Hospitality involves helping those formerly incarcerated with re-entry into society, including our churches. Justice involves striving for criminal justice reform in our state in order to uphold the dignity of prisoners and those formerly incarcerated. Learn more about our work here: https://www.diocese-oregon.org/ministries/prison-ministry/
Diocesan Youth Commission
The Diocese of Oregon holds several retreat weekends for youth throughout the year along with an annual summer mission trip. These activities help connect our youth across our parishes. For some of these youth, this is the only opportunity they have to interact with peers of their age who also attend Episcopal churches. More information available here: https://www.diocese-oregon.org/ministries/youth-ministries/
Other Commissions
The Diocese of Oregon has multiple other commissions to address various challenges and opportunities that we face. The Commission to End Racism is fighting against the sin of white supremacy, while the Commission on Poverty and Homelessess is striving to support work that helps those who find themselves without adequate housing, food, or other necessities. The Recovery Commission supports Episcopalians struggling with alcoholism and addiction and supports parishes as they engage in similar work. The Environmental Commission is helping our churches to take better care of the environment, while the Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission is helping us connect to and partner with people of other denominations and faiths. The Commission on Ministry helps raised up new clergy for this rapidly changing church and world.
Diocesan Finances
The Diocese of Oregon has an approximately two million dollar budget. We anticipated just over two million in 2019 and are anticipating just under two million in 2020. Income comes from several sources, but the primary income source is the Diocesan Program Assessment (DPA). DPA makes up 90% of the budget and is calculated from a two year rolling average of the Parochial Report’s Normal Operating Income minus Outreach from Operating Budget. The assessment is 10% of the Base Amount (which is $35,190 in 2019 and adjusts annually based on inflation) and 18% on all income above that. The diocesan budget is designed to strengthen and support congregational life, capacity for mission, missional leadership, and gospel justice advocacy. To explore diocesan finances more deeply, see the following documents:
The 2019 budget: https://www.diocese-oregon.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/2019-Diocesan-Budget-Final.pdf
The 2020 draft budget: http://convention.diocese-oregon.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/2020-Diocesan-Budget-Draft-3-to-Convention.pdf
The 2020 narrative draft budget: http://convention.diocese-oregon.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/2020-Diocesan-Budget-Narrative-Draft-3-to-Convention.pdf