Parishes 19 Bishop Kevin Bond Allen | Rite Anglican | |
Ecclesiastical province Anglican Church in North America | ||
The Diocese of Cascadia is a founding diocese of the Anglican Church in North America, created in June 2009. It encompasses 18 congregations. The name Cascadia was chosen because the Cascade Range is a common geographical feature of the region.
The diocese encompasses the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska. The state with most congregations is Washington, with 14. The main church is St. Brendan's Anglican Church in Bellingham, Washington. The congregation was established by Kevin Bond Allen.
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 first bishop of the Diocese of Cascadia by Robert Duncan (as archbishop of the ACNA) on September 30, 2011, in Seattle, Washington.