Diocese of Cascadia

The Diocese of Cascadia is a founding diocese of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), created in June 2009. It encompasses 21 congregations.[1] The name Cascadia was chosen because the Cascade Range is a prominent geographical feature of the region.[2]

Diocese of Diocese of Cascadia
Location
Ecclesiastical provinceAnglican Church in North America
Statistics
Parishes21
Information
RiteAnglican
CathedralSt. Charles Anglican Cathedral, Bremerton, WA
Current leadership
BishopKevin Bond Allen
Website
Diocese of Cascadia Official Website

The diocese encompasses the states of Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. The state with most congregations is Washington, with 15, followed by Oregon, with 5, and Alaska, with one. The main church was St. Brendan's Anglican Church in Bellingham, Washington, until the establishment of St. Charles Anglican Cathedral, in Bremerton, Washington, which was consecrated on 2 March 2019.[3][4]

History

The new diocese was formed by eight congregations, St. Barnabas (Shoreline), St. Paul's (Seattle), St. Brendan's (Bellingham), St. Charles (Poulsbo), St. Stephen's (Oak Harbor), St. Ursula's (Sultan), and Trinity (Mt. Vernon), with a new church, Resurrection, being started at Fircrest, near Tacoma in Western Washington. The Diocese of Cascadia first Synod took place on March 7, 2009 in St. Barnabas Anglican Church. On the same occasion, Richard Boyce, a bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church, was elected as their first Vicar General.

Bishop Boyce stated that "We are committing to unite as congregations whose dynamic worship and discipleship in the Word, in prayer and service nurtures faithful Christians who can reach out to others who are spiritually starving". Boyce noted that the formation of the new diocese will allow congregations to still retain membership with existing jurisdictions during this period. Fr. Kevin Bond Allen, rector of St. Brendan's, was elected president of the Diocesan Council. He stated that "We are not called to belong to a new organization or institution, but to be part of a great mission empowered by the Holy Spirit to make disciples of all people. Our clergy are now collegial pastors of our Lord Jesus Christ, who can pray for, care for and support one another in our ministry together. Our lay members can now share their ministries with our brothers and sisters throughout the Pacific Northwest and know they will always have a worship home away from home in their travels."

Kevin Allen was consecrated the first bishop of the Diocese of Cascadia by Robert Duncan (as archbishop of the ACNA) on September 30, 2011, in Seattle, Washington.[5]

References
  1. Diocese of Cascadia Congregations at the Anglican Church in North America Official Website
  2. "Diocese of Cascadia History". Archived from the original on 2011-12-06. Retrieved 2012-02-15.
  3. Breakaway congregations form a new Anglican diocese, Seattle Times, April 3, 2009 Archived December 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  4. The Consecration of St Charles Anglican Cathedral, 2 March 2019, St Charles Anglican Cathedral Official Website
  5. Kevin Allen Installation as the First Bishop of the Diocese of Cascadia, August 23, 2011
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