About the Diocese of Olympia – Bishop of Olympia Search

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Episcopalians try to love with the heart of Christ, think with the mind of Christ, and act as if we were the body of Christ.

Prof. Willis H. A. Moore, Diocese of Hawaii

Who Is the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia

The Episcopal Diocese of Olympia traces its history to the establishment of the Missionary Jurisdiction of the Oregon and Washington Territories in 1853. We are also known as the Episcopal Church in Western Washington. Admitted by General Convention in 1910, the Diocese of Olympia is made up of more than 26,000 Episcopalians in more than 100 worshiping communities through Western Washington. Our geographic area stretches south from Canada to Oregon and west from the foothills of the Cascade Mountains to the Pacific Ocean.

Through worship we:

Affirm our faith
Pray together
Reconcile together
Share peace and thanksgiving together
Gain strength and renewal through Eucharist
Prepare ourselves to minister to the world.

We share hope in God’s incredibly extensive grace to forgive all repentant people.

Our congregations cover a whole range of sizes and stages of development. Several affiliated institutions and numerous outreach and social justice ministries as well as a number of multicultural ministries are supported by the whole diocese.

In union with our bishop, the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, part of the Jesus Movement, bears witness to God’s redemptive reign and acts out God’s inclusive love, peace, and justice, uniquely living out this call within our specific local communities. We are:

Locally Centered: Instead of operating from a “top-down” model that prizes centralized leadership, we believe that each congregation must be free to live out this vision in a way that best meets the unique needs of their specific community.
Networked Communities: We believe that our more than 100 worshiping communities are stronger when there are connections that allow our congregations to share stories, resources, challenges, and triumphs with one another.
Forming Christian Leaders: We are committed to equipping and empowering a community who is learning, growing, and gathering regularly to proclaim the good news of God as revealed in the life, ministry, and witness of Jesus Christ.
Sacrament & Service: We are a liturgical community that is rooted in our common prayer and our celebration of Holy Eucharist, which forms us and prepares us to step beyond our church walls and serve our neighborhoods, our towns and cities, and the world.