Praises Be!

Your Standing Committee is pleased to announce that The Rt. Rev. Sanford “Sandy” Hampton will become our Assisting Bishop on April 18, 2008. His wife, Mari, will join him for his time in Oregon and accompany him on visitations. The visitation schedule will be developed during his first two weeks and will be published as soon as we confirm with those clergy involved. Please welcome Bishop Hampton and his wife.

Bishop Hampton will be in our diocese a couple of weeks each month. He, of course, will have an office at the Close. His primary responsibilities will be for that all important ”pastoral presence” with visitations, confirmations, ordinations, relationship with clergy and laity, and clergy supervision as duties.

Bishop Hampton retired from the Diocese of Olympia where he served as the Assistant Bishop for seven years. He and his wife love to travel to meet clergy and laity. Before moving to the Northwest, Bishop Hampton served at Suffragan Bishop of Minnesota. He also has extensive experience with supporting the growth and development of small churches from Utah, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington state. His time in Oregon was spent in LaGrande.

In another matter, your Standing Committee has filled the vacant position of Dean in Central Convocation due to The Rev. Jeremy Tyndall’s resignation. We appointed The Rev. Susan Church to fill this position. Her fellow Deans have welcomed her. We look forward to her leadership.

Willamette Convocation met on April 5, 2008 in Monmouth at St. Hilda, The Rev. Anne Moore, Vicar. Clergy and delegates packed the room. They welcomed me warmly and asked questions about the transition. I answered to the best of my ability.

Please continue to keep Bishop Itty and his family, the diocesan staff and the diocese in your prayers.

In Christ’s love,

Mary M. Cramer, President
Standing Committee
Diocese of Oregon
maryc@diocese-oregon.org