The Episcopal Church traces its origin to Christ and the Apostles, to
the Church of England in the 2nd century and, in its modern form, from the English
Reformation of the 16th century, to post-revolutionary America, when the Church was first
constituted as an independent church in communion with Canterbury.
The Anglican Communion has maintained the episcopal form of
government. Each national Anglican "province' of the Communion worships in the Common
Prayer tradition, locally adapted. The Episcopal Church, USA, isthe American
Province of the world wide Anglican Communion.
The Episcopal Church in the United States uses the term
"province" to describe nine subdivisions of our national church and the
affiliated dioceses beyond the United States. The Episcopal Diocese of Oregon is in
Province VIII, the Province of the Pacific.
The Diocese of Oregon is the corporate entity of the Episcopal Church
encompassing western Oregon from the Columbia River on the north to the California border
on the south, and from the Cascade crest on the east to the Pacific Ocean on the west.
Under the administration of the Bishop, the Diocese is made up of 38
Parishes (including Trinity Cathedral) and 39 Diocesan Missions.
In June, 1997, Diocesan Council adopted the following vision
statement for the Diocese:
"We, the people of the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon, seek to
live out the Baptismal covenant in our common life, ministry and mission. We are a body
formed in the Anglican tradition of Common Prayer, and are open to new forms of liturgical
expression as they are revealed to us.
With spirits strengthened by sacraments and minds enlightened by
Biblical witness, we seek to bring a clear expression of the ministry of Jesus Christ to
the people of the world. We recognize our equality in the sight of God and we seek to
discover and honor the unique gifts of all. Thus, we serve God with resources ever made
new by divine and abundant grace.
MISSON STATEMENT
Our mission, as the church in Western Oregon, is to
equip and support one another in our baptismal ministries, and to spread the Good News of
God in Christ into the world.
OBJECTIVES
Following are the objectives Diocesan Council adopts in
seeking to fufill the essence of the Vision Statement:
Serve as a symbol of unity and grace and a witness to
God's compassion and mercy within and outside the Diocese.
Engage the people of the Diocese of Oregon in a common
effort focused on the Vision.
Implement and strengthen the ministry of all the baptized
in the Diocese of Oregon.
Develop support for diocesan congregations as they work
to fulfill the Vision, with counsel, coordination, and direction from the Bishop.
Objectives adopted by Diocesan Council
February 18, 2000
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