Bishop Award winners who were honored at the annual diocesan convention on November 10, 2006 were (l-r): Judy Heaney, Stephen Snyder, Mary Dettman, with her granddaughter, Emma Isaksen, (Bishop Itty), Preston Holt, Jim Johnson, and Clara Scallon. Not pictured: Pat Eastman.

Seven diocesan members, each representing one of the seven diocesan convocations, were honored for their “humility, dedication and tirelessness,” in service to their congregations and the diocese at the 118th Diocesan Convention in November.

The “Bishop’s Award for Distinguished Parochial Service” was created this year to honor individuals who often work behind the scenes with little fanfare, but who give much of their time and individual talents to the church. Bishop Johncy Itty introduced the winners, who were nominated by individual clergy and selected by convocation deans, at the diocesan banquet on November 10, 2006. Said Itty: “These individuals have been honored because they the Lord’s work with humility, dedication and tirelessness. They are always willing to help—often at a moment’s notice—and always with a smile. Toiling in the Lord’s Vineyard with joy and dedication is what they do best.”

The winners of the 2006 Bishop’s Award for Distinguished Parochial Service are:

Pat Eastman, St. Alban, Albany (nominated by the Rev. Tom Sramek, Jr.)
“Pat has served as stewardship chairman, search committee chairman, men’s group convener, and as a member of the finance committee. He has served as a delegate to diocesan convention, including the electing convention. More important than all of this is his constant availability for nearly any job that needs doing. He has led multiple workdays and has lent hi s expertise to continuously improving our church facilities, at times as the sole person doing the work. Most importantly, he has a rare gift for encouragement and missionary thinking that has been an inspiration to all that know him. He has seen the good, the bad, and the ugly in the church and remains committed to its life and health. He is fiercely loyal to the Episcopal Church and has consistently been the voice of clam and of reason during times of conflict. There is literally nothing he wouldn’t do for the church.”

Clara Scallon, St. George, Roseburg (nominated by the Rev. Bill Stroop)
“Clara has been a member of St. George’s for more than 50 years (with her late husband, Joe). Clara has served on virtually every vestry commission and the vestry more than a few times. She currently serves on the vestry and is chair of the altar guild. She is also the treasurer of the Episcopal Church Women, and has served as that organization’s president and secretary.  Every year, Clara single-handedly coordinates, facilitates, and works the ECW rummage sale, which is a monumental task conducted twice a year.

Clara is also a dedicated volunteer who is the first to give of her time to prepare meals for special events, such as the Epiphany dinner, Lenten soup suppers, Thanksgiving supper, etc. She serves on the fundraising committee and works with others to help with weddings and funerals. She also volunteers in the office and is our parish transportation coordinator. Clara is also instrumental in pastoral care. She contacts people who haven’t attended for awhile to see if they need assistance. She makes sure the altar flowers are delivered to our shut-ins.”

Jim Johnson, St. Martin, Lebanon (nominated by the Rev. Dcn. Helen Richard)
“Jim serves as our volunteer parish administrator. That doesn’t begin to describe all the things he does from emergency repairs to computer expertise. Jim produces the Sunday bulletin, supervises the volunteer secretaries, keeps all of our home computers working, sets up the parish hall for events, and communicates our needs to the Bishop’s Close. Jim directs the Parkinson’s support group and has Parkinson’s disease himself.  It is largely due to his efforts that we have formed the Mid Valley Churches (Sweet Home, Lebanon, Albany and Corvallis) into the close working group that it is. When someone in our congregation has a need, the stock question is: ‘Have you asked Jim?’ And when they do, his answer is almost always, ‘How soon do you need it?’”

Judy Heaney, Emmanuel, Coos Bay (nominated by the Rev. Steve Tyson)
“Judy Heaney is a person who has a heart of gold, the sunniest personality and is surrounded by and filled with God’s love, even as she struggle with serious health problems. She has served as a delegated to diocesan convention many times. She is active in our South Coast convocation.  This she, she chaired our parish committee to host the annual convocation picnic. Judy is an active member of the Mary-Elizabeth Guild and has served on our vestry, is a member of the altar guild and is an active member of the Women of Emmanuel. Perhaps most inspiring of all, Judy is a retired school teacher and has used her connections to identify children in the greatest need. With Judy’s leadership, work and inspiration, our parish provides Christmas baskets (and these are overflowing laundry-sized baskets) to the 65 of the neediest families in our community.”

Stephen Snyder, St. Stephen, Portland (nominated by the Very Rev. Hollinshead T. Knight)
“Stephen has been a member of St. Stephen’s for 35-40 years, and is, by any reckoning, our ‘unsung hero’. He is a self-described ‘liturgical chief cook and bottle washer,’ and for the last three years has also served as secretary of the parish. Stephen sings in the choir, heads the altar guild—and just about everything else. He is also clerk of the vestry and of the building oversight committee as well as serving as president of the Columbia Convocation. Stephen cooks and serves at the Tuesday chili lunch and the Saturday morning breakfast. Recently he took in a young man off the street, who had no place to stay and helped him find a place of his own. Stephen has been the glue that has held the congregation together over some rough times in the parish. People look to him as their advisor and he always lends a willing ear to parishioner and street person alike.

Mary Dettmann, St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukie (nominated by the Rev. Sara Fischer)
“Mary’s primary role at St. John’s has been as bookkeeper, to which she devotes 12-15 hours per week as a volunteer. She took on this role during a time when the parish was facing new and complex financial challenges, and it was her grace-filled spirit that helped steer the parish through stormy waters. Mary also teaches Sunday school, brings meals to the sick, crochets prayer shawls and has served as wedding coordinator for more years than can be counted. She is a joy to fellow parishioners and is a steady source of support and counsel to her priest.”

Preston Holt, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (nominated by the Very Rev. William Lupfer)
“Preston has served God in our diocese for many, many y ears. He has offered countless forms of ministry—far too many to set out. Preston has had a very full ministry at Trinity Cathedral, especially in the area of outreach. He also works with neighborhood groups to support the elderly, poor, and homeless. He has written successful grants to bring in national funding to local ministries. Preston is a living example of a person fully lives his faith.”