Across the Diocese – August 13, 2026

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African Transformative Conference

September 5 10:30AM – 6:00PM | St. Columba, Kent

African churches are some of the fastest growing in our diocese. Join our African congregations and ecumenical friends from around the US and the African continent to celebrate and share our diverse cultures and ministry contexts. The Office of Multicultural Ministries & Community Transformation invites all of the diocese to this exciting event! There will be time for churches and individuals to share their culture’s gifts of music, dancing, textiles, etc. We can always use volunteers to help us set up (10 am), serve lunch or dinner, and clean up (out by 7 pm). Email Rev. Mary Bol or Adrienne Elliott with questions about cultural sharing, volunteering, or anything else.

D-House Blessing

September 9, 2026 from 3PM – 7PM

You’re invited to an open house and blessing of the recently restored diocesan house (historic Leary Mansion) of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia. The house will be open from 3pm – 7pm with a house blessing taking place at 5PM. This is a family-friend event; people of all ages are welcome (there will not be childcare). An assortment of small bites will be served Please RSVP here.

Exploring Discernment Retreat

September 12, St. Mary’s, Lakewood

Do you have a big question in life that you are thinking about and wondering what God would have you do? A question like: Should I retire? Should I go back to school? Should I try this ministry? Should I start my own business? Where should I volunteer my time?

These questions and more are invitations to explore your relationship with God, yourself, and others more deeply and this one-day retreat will give you resources to do just that.

Learn more and register here. Questions? Contact Michael Seewer.

Online Anti-Racism Training

September 26, 10AM – 3PM

Join Cn. Carla Robinson for our online offering of anti-racism training. All lay church leaders are highly encouraged to complete this program. This one-day training experience is based on “Seeing the Face of God in Each Other: The Antiracism Training Manual of the Episcopal Church.” You can register for the zoom session here.

Sacred Waters Community Art Fair

September 5, 2026 from 10AM – 3PM

Sacred Waters invites you to their community art fair! Take a stroll through our gardens, listen to live music, and visit the tables of over 30 local artists and nonprofits.

Full and Equal: 50 Years in Pursuit of a Promise

September 3-5, 2026, Minneapolis

The Episcopal Church will host a celebration called “Full and Equal: 50 Years in Pursuit of a Promise” September 3-5 in Minneapolis to celebrate the adoption of a resolution at the 65th General Convention in 1976 which affirmed that “homosexual people are children of God with a full and equal claim upon the church’s love, acceptance, and pastoral concern and care,” and to reflect on the church’s ongoing journey toward LGBTQ+ inclusion. We are curious if anyone from the diocese might be planning on attending this event and, if so, we be interested in an evening together as people from our diocese during the conference. If you are planning on attending, and would be interested in joining others from the diocese for fellowship one evening, please contact Michael Seewer. To find out more about the conference, including a link to the registration for the event, visit this link.

College for Congregational Development

September 19, October 18, November 21, January 9, February 6

For those who prefer, we offer a Five-Saturday option to attend the College for Congregational Development beginning every Fall. CCD offers an opportunity for congregational teams to learn together to build healthy, vibrant congregations. Learn more and register here.

Province VIII Creation Care Conference

September 25-27, 2026

Come to a transformative three-day event centered on faith, climate action, and Indigenous wisdom! Join Episcopalians from the nine western states of Province VIII as we gather to renew, repair, and restore our relationship to God’s creation. The goals of the conference are to: Equip for climate action, empower congregations, and work toward the Episcopal Church goal of climate neutrality by 2030. Join us in Salt Lake City! Learn more and register here.

Survey for Episcopalians and Ministry with Veterans and the Armed Forces

Episcopalians are invited to complete a brief survey offered by the Office of Armed Forces and Federal Ministries to help the office strengthen ministry with veterans, support chaplaincy discernment, and identify individuals and communities who wish to participate in this work.

By sharing your experiences, interests, and needs, you are helping The Episcopal Church better accompany veterans, support those discerning chaplaincy, and develop resources for dioceses and parishes. Responses may be used to guide future outreach, training, and connection. Take the survey here.

Convention News

More information and submission links can be found on the Convention website: https://ecww.org/diocesan-convention-2026/

Registration

Registration is live for delegates and convention guests! Fill out this form to register for convention. Early bird pricing is $125. The price will increase to $150 on September 18th. The registration deadline is October 8, 2026.

Join us this year as we gather for the Diocese of Olympia’s 116th Convention at one location, The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, SeaTac. Starting in the morning, Friday will be filled with great workshops and exhibits by folks and organizations from around the Diocese. Look for workshops centered around our mission framework areas: Beloved Community, Congregational Development, Creation Justice, Discipleship, and Stewardship. The business session will start Friday afternoon. A formal schedule will be available soon. 

The Diocese of Olympia Convention meets annually to conduct the business of the diocese. It worships together; elects to diocesan offices; ratifies a budget; sets assessment levels; admits congregations as missions or parishes; votes on resolutions; elects a General Convention deputation; and hears the bishop’s annual address. Clergy, elected delegates from congregations, and governing body members attend as voting convention members. This year we are happy to welcome guests to attend both the workshops and business sessions of the Convention.

Nominations

Convention 2026 is coming up and we’re looking to fill the following roles. In order for the nominee biographical information to be included in the convention report, please submit your information to the nominations committee using the forms below by September 8. Nominee statement and picture are due by September 21.

Diocesan Council –  Be Attitudes, Sno-Isle, Peninsula, and 1 Clergy and 1 Lay for At-Large members

Standing Committee – 1 Clergy & 1 Lay

Commission on Ministry – 1 Deacon & 1 Lay

Nomination form for diocesan roles available here.

General Convention – 2 Lay Alternate

Nomination form for general convention delegates available here.

Pray about how God might use your gifts and passions at the larger Diocesan level. If you feel called to serve, please complete a nomination form. Questions? Contact Fr. Wesley Evans.

Resolutions

Convention resolutions are statements that reflect the vision and values of the diocese on a host of matters from social and justice issues to ministry and business practices. There are no unimportant resolutions. In the Diocese of Olympia, resolutions are adopted through the legislative process. Any member of the Diocese may submit a resolution for consideration by the Convention, and it is recommended that each Convention resolution be submitted with the endorsement of a congregation and/or region/groups of congregations, or the endorsement of a diocesan commission, committee, or program.

Resolutions are due by September 8. Questions? Contact Rev. Josh Hosler.

Bishop’s Cross Awards

Since 1953, a small number of Bishop’s Cross Awards have been given each year to those whose very lives embody the spirit of Christ.

If you know of such a person deserving of this award, talk with your church office or leadership about submitting a nomination. The awards will be made during the Diocesan Convention. Nominations must be submitted by September 20 using this form. Any issues with the form, please contact Michael Seewer.

Pre-Convention Meetings

Tuesday, October 6 at 6:30PM – Narrative Budget Zoom Session

Wednesday, October 14 at 7:00PM – Resolution Information Zoom Session

The sessions will be recorded and shared publicly at the conclusion of each session.

Important Deadlines and Dates

September 8: Deadline for submission of nominations interest in order to be included in convention booklet

September 8: Deadline for submission of resolutions, Constitution and Canons changes, and budget amendments

September 20: Bishop’s Cross Nomination Deadline

September 21: Deadline for submission of nominations bios and convention reports

September 22: Deadline for requests for Admission of New Parishes and Missions

October 8: Deadline for written notice of Regional Ministry young adult delegate

October 8: Deadline for certification of delegates and alternates

October 21: Deadline for 48 hour resolutions

Important Dates & Upcoming Events

August 16 – Compline Choir’s 70th Anniversary

August 17-21 – Weeklong College for Congregational Development Session

September 5 – African Transformative Conference

September 12 – Exploring Discernment Retreat

September 19 – College for Congregational Development Saturday Sessions Begin

September 26 – Antiracism Training (online)

October 3rd – Ordinations at St. Mark’s Cathedral

October 6th – Pre-Convention: Narrative Budget Zoom Session at 6:30PM

October 14th – Pre-Convention: Resolution Information Zoom Session at 7:00PM

October 23 – 24 – Diocese of Olympia Convention

For more upcoming diocesan events, visit our Diocesan Events Page at the link below.

The Joy of Creating – Quilt Submissions Open Now

Saint Mark’s Visual Arts Ministry and Quilt Ministry invite quilters from across the Episcopal Church in Western Washington to submit their original works reflecting our theme: “The Joy of Creating.” Quilts will be hung in the cathedral nave, January 3 -31, 2027. Registration opens August 3, 2026 and closes October 23, 2026. More information and the entry form is here.

August 13, – Goats for Widows Zoom

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Thanks to seed money from a Diocesan grant, and an established relationship with the Diocese of Southern Malawi, The Venerable Father John Ng’oma, an Anglican priest from Malawi, will connect with us via Zoom to present and share about how Goats for Widows changes lives for women in poverty in SE Africa.

August 13, 14, 15 – Faith in Trying Times: Remorse, Compassion and Rage

Explore how Christians engage in acts of remorse, compassion and rage in an age of uncertainty and fear. St. Paul’s (Bremerton) welcomes folks from around the diocese to join in conversations with local priest authors Stephen Crippen, Hillary Kimsey and Elizabeth Riley.

August 16 – The Compline Choir’s 70th Anniversary

The Compline Choir at Saint Mark’s Cathedral is celebrating 70 years this summer. Enjoy a full day of music beginning with morning worship services, with the Compline Choir women singing at the 9 a.m. service and the Compline Choir men singing at the 11 a.m. service. At 9:30 p.m., both the men and women of the Compline Choir will sing the office in a rare combining of the men’s and women’s voices. 

September 12 – Art of Giving

Opportunity to see, and perhaps purchase, original art. There will be live art demonstrations, ink painting and origami activities, dance performances and complimentary refreshments. This is a free event hosted by Saint Albans Episcopal Church, Edmonds, WA., and coordinated with International Charity. Arts Association, Seattle, WA. Art sale profits are shared by artist and church, 50/50.

September 26 – Godly Play Training

Through a collaboration between the Diocese of Olympia and Saint Mark’s Cathedral, we are pleased to offer a workshop day for all: those who are new to this methodology and those who have been practicing for a long time. Join us for a day of learning, community building, and sharing best practices.

October 3 – Worship Amid Social Turmoil

In an unprecedented time of economic, political, and social turmoil, how might worship around Book, Font, and Table lead us to live out our baptismal promises to serve Christ in others, respect the dignity of every human being, seek justice and peace, and care for God’s creation? Join worship committee members, musicians, and clergy as we explore practical ways in which our common prayer informs our common vocation as public witnesses of hope. Hosted by the Bishop’s Commission on Liturgy and the Arts, Associated Parishes for Liturgy and Mission, and the Wild Hope Center for Vocation Pacific Lutheran University:

Want to share your congregational event? Submit your information here.

Have a general announcement for Across the Diocese? Submit it here.

View the complete list of congregational events here.

UPCOMING BISHOP VISITATIONS

• September 6, St. Paul’s, Mt. Vernon
• September 20, John the Baptist, West Seattle

To see a full schedule of Bishop Phil’s visitations, click here.

In this week’s Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we pray for:

• St. Augustine’s in-the-Woods, Freeland (Aug 16)
• St. Philip’s, Marysville (Aug 16)

Important Links

The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS) password: Matthew22:4

Saint Mark’s Cathedral – Cathedral Buildings & Grounds Specialist

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