AI Task Force Initial Meeting & Video Conversation October 15, 10:30AM, 10am-4pm, Epiphany Parish You are invited to join the Diocese of Olympia AI Task Force for our initial meeting on Thursday October 15 from 10am-4pm (lunch provided) at Epiphany Parish Seattle. If you are interested in the intersection of faith and AI, the conversation on how the church is engaging with the ever-increasing prevalence of this technology, if you use it regularly or choose to abstain, you are invited to join us in our initial meeting and conversation about AI and The Church. At this meeting we will share resources, share in conversation, raise up areas for further study, and begin to formulate ways of discussing AI that we can share with our parishes and the diocese at large. This invitation is for any in the diocese who are interested in participating, clergy or lay. As part of this work, The Rev. Doyt Conn and The Rev. Nic Mather, Co-chairs of the AI Task Force, joined together in conversation to begin addressing these topics and offer that conversation to the diocese here. If you would like to join us on the 15th, please RSVP to The Rev. Nic Mather. |
Queer Anglicanism: Five Centuries of LGBTQ+ History Sunday October 18 at 6pm via Zoom Celebrate Queer History Month with the Diocese of Olympia! Join Canon Carla Robinson and other diocesan leaders as we are joined by The Rev. Dr. Patrick Cheng as he presents Queer Anglicanism: Five Centuries of LGBTQ+ History. This talk will provide an overview of the history of same-sex-attracted and gender-variant individuals and movements within the Church of England, the Episcopal Church, and the Anglican Communion from the 16th century to today. The workshop will also explore the work of key LGBTQ+ Episcopal and Anglican theologians with respect to queer theology, queer of color theory, and queer postcolonial thought. Registration is required via this link. |
Convention News REGISTER TODAY! Friday Visitor Only – $40 Full Program Registration: $150 Fill out this form to register for convention. Convention Costs Please make note of this communication from Cn. Cristi about convention costs. Convention Documents Looking for a convention document? Find the most recent version of each document here, along with Spanish language translations as they become available. Ready to View A11 Workshop Guide B4 General Convention Nominations Report D2 Resolutions Committee Report Coming Soon A1 Convention Agenda B3 Nominations Report … and more! Workshop & Exhibits There are 27 workshops being offered on Friday, October 23, beginning at 9:30AM. There will be a variety of sessions including: Rituals of Resistance and Hope, Garden Church, Feminism and the Church, Running a Successful Capital Campaign, Embodying Hope in State Halls of Power, and more! There will also be over 30 exhibits to explore on both Friday and Saturday. Visit with a variety of organizations including Episcopal Relief and Development, Faith Action Network, Camp Huston, Sacred Waters, and many more. Important Deadlines and Dates October 14 – Resolution Information Zoom Session at 7:00PM October 21: Deadline for 48 hour resolutions October 23-24: Convention |
Pre-Election Interfaith Vigil for Unity & Peace Wednesday Oct. 28th at 8:00pm at Saint Mark’s Cathedral Ahead of the midterm elections, local religious leaders and members of Seattle’s faith community are gathering for an interfaith prayer vigil. Together, we will demonstrate unity and express our shared values of peace amidst global conflict and solidarity with our migrant neighbors and other victims of mass violence, displacement, or othering. This event is co-sponsored by Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle, St. James Catholic Cathedral, Temple De Hirsch Sinai, First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Seattle, and the Center for Ecumenical and Interreligious Engagement at Seattle University. Details and livestream information available here. |
Lunch and Learn: How to Run a Great Annual Meeting Nov 17 at 12:10pm At this, our first of many Lunch and Learns, we will gather on Zoom to learn helpful tips and tricks for running effective and meaningful annual meetings. Our annual meetings are not just business meetings, but rare touchpoint opportunities for our congregations to get in better touch with themselves, to live more fully into each of our unique callings, and to build communal trust through listening and action. We will give guidance on agenda design and facilitation and provide ideas for incorporating the collective voice of your people. We encourage any clergy and lay leaders who are interested to attend! Register here. |
Certificate in Congregational Spiritual Direction Through our membership in the Iona Collaborative, interested clergy and laypersons are eligible to to enroll in a new and exciting offering – a Certificate in Congregational Spiritual Direction. What is it? Congregational spiritual direction helps a church listen to its shared life and discern where God is at work. The Certificate in Congregational Spiritual Direction prepares lay and ordained leaders to guide congregations in listening, reflection, and discernment through online study, an in-person intensive, and supervised fieldwork. Who Can Apply? Priests, deacons, lay leaders, diocesan staff, and others who work with congregations are welcome to apply. The cost of the program is $1500, but because the Diocese of Olympia is a member of the Iona Collaborative, Diocese of Olympia attendees are eligible for a full scholarship. For more information, visit this page and plan to attend one of the informational sessions on either October 22 at 2pm (PDT), or November 5 at 4:30 (PDT) to learn about the certificate and the application process. More details (and links to the Zoom meetings) can be found at this linked info page. |
Global Missions Grants Committee Members Needed Each year the Diocese of Olympia sets aside a portion of its operating budget to fund Global Missions Grants. These small grants are aimed at helping congregations in the diocese fund projects with global partners which align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s). The Bishop’s Office is seeking individuals to serve on the committee that will gather the applications, evaluate them and decide which applicants will be awarded grants for 2027. The bulk of the committee’s work will take place between early November 2026 and March 2027. If you would like to serve on the Global Missions Grants committee or want more information, please contact Canon Carla Robinson via email. |
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Annual Health Insurance Enrollment for 2027 Annual health insurance enrollment will take place from October 14-November 6. A letter to all plan participants with plan details, rates, and changes can be found here. Please share this with your clergy and any staff who are eligible to participate. Information on plan comparisons; general eligibility requirements; the diocesan health care policy; fact sheets for health care savings accounts and Medicare Small Payor Exceptions; vision benefits; waiver forms; and required disclosures can be found here. This year, CPG will not send hard copies of annual enrollment materials. Instead, all materials will be communicated via email. Please confirm you have a valid email address on file with CPG and watch for emails from CPG about annual enrollment. Unless you need to make changes to your coverage for 2027, you do not need to confirm/affirm any of your plan choices. If you have questions, please contact Canon Charles Thorne. |
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Important Dates & Upcoming Events 2026 October 14 – Pre-Convention: Resolution Information Zoom Session at 7:00PM October 15 – AI Task Force Meeting October 23 – 24 – Diocese of Olympia Convention October 28 – Pre-Election Interfaith Vigil for Unity & Peace at Saint Mark’s Cathedral November 17 – Lunch and Learn: Planning Engaging Annual Meetings with Cn. Ivar Hillesland December 2 – Lunch and Learn: Holy Week Liturgies with Rev. Samuel Torvend 2027 January 5 – Lunch and Learn: Observing Black History Month with Cn. Carla Robinson January 30 – Congregational Leadership Conference February 18 – Lunch and Learn: Discernment Process Rev. Jennifer Daugherty March 3 – Lunch and Learn: Social Media & Digital Evangelism Rev. Elizabeth Riley March 16 – Lunch and Learn: Health Change in Congregations Cn. Ivar Hillesland April 17 – Exploring Discernment Retreat May 1 – Cathedral Day June 20-25 – CCD Summer Session August 15-20 – CCD Summer Session |
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For more upcoming diocesan events, visit our Diocesan Events Page at the link below. |
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October 11 – Pan African Potluck and Communication Conversation Join Epiphany Seattle for a Pan African Potluck and Community Conversation on Sunday, October 11, 4:00-6:00 pm. a short talk by Gordon Okumu sharing practical guidance and helpful insights on navigating life in the United States as an immigrant from Africa. |
October 16 – Saint Mark’s Music Series: All-Night Vigil Cappella Romana presents Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil, a luminous bridge between ancient Slavic spiritual traditions and late-Romantic expression. With bass notes that challenge the limits of the human voice, it is an outpouring of profound emotional and spiritual vision. |
October 17 – Classical guitarist Mischa Yolleck in concert at San Juan Episcopal, Olympia Mischa Yolleck, a premier classical guitarist based in Seattle, and winner of the 2022 Northwest Guitar Competition, will perform in concert at St. John | San Juan Episcopal Church in Olympia beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday, October 18. The program includes: BWV 998, Prelude Fugue and Allegro, by J.S. Bach; Andante Largo by Fernando Sor; Mallorca by Isaac Albeinz; and many other classics. |
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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 closes October 23, 2026. More information and the entry form is here. |
October 30 – Phantom of the Pipes: A Haunting Halloween Organ Concert & Spooky Storytelling Spectacle Join St. Dunstan’s for a frightfully delightful evening of ghost stories and organ music! Let master storyteller Geoff Poor transport you into a shadow world of ghosts and ghouls through gripping recitations of spooky stories, culminating in Edgar Allan Poe’s monumental poem “The Raven.” Organist Susanna Valleau, maestro of music macabre, will unleash a wave of eerie, sinister music on the pipes, ending, of course, with Bach’s famous – iconic – infamous! – “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor.” Costumes are encouraged! Seasonal treats and prizes for best costume will be shared after the concert. |
Nov. 5 – Making Room for Jesus in Preaching with Dr. Craig Satterlee Where is Jesus in your preaching? This preaching workshop will explore the question in depth. Pastors, Deacons and all preachers are welcome. Held at First Lutheran Church of West Seattle on November 5th from 9AM – 3PM. |
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UPCOMING BISHOP VISITATIONS - October 11, Holy Spirit, Vashon
- October 18, St. Luke’s Memorial, Tacoma
To see a full schedule of Bishop Phil’s visitations, click here. |
Canon for Communications, Diocese of Olympia The Diocese of Olympia seeks a seasoned, strategic, collaborative, and relationship-centered Canon for Communications to lead all diocesan communications, digital platforms, media connections, and public relations efforts. Reporting directly to the Bishop, this senior leadership role is responsible for shaping how the mission, ministries, and public witness of the Episcopal Church are communicated to parishioners, partners, and the broader Western Washington community. The Canon for Communications serves as the chief curator and steward of diocesan messaging, ensuring clarity, consistency, theological integrity, and warmth across all platforms. Learn more about the position and application process here. |
Executive Director, Seattle Seafarers Center Do you have a heart for maritime workers and strong development/fundraising skills? The Seattle Seafarers Center provides a vital service by caring for the spiritual and physical wellbeing of seafarers who visit our Puget Sound ports. The Executive Director is responsible for the overall mission of the center, particularly its development, operations, and supervision of staff/volunteers. This full-time (40 hours per week) role will be charged with improving the center’s financial wellbeing through new fundraising structures and maritime, business, and church partnerships. Full job description can be found HERE. Ultimately, the mission involves elevating the dignity of seafarers, making their invisible presence and contribution visible to all. Please send cover letter and resume to jobs@mts-seattle.org. Questions? Please call (206) 935-3439. |
Director of Communications, Saint Mark’s Cathedral Saint Mark’s Cathedral is now accepting applications for the Director of Communications. This role is responsible for the overall communications and messaging of the Cathedral and for timely content creation across various channels (digital and print) – cultivating a sense of belonging among parishioners and the broader community through effective storytelling and consistent brand identity. Read the job description and application instructions: saintmarks.org/employment |
In this week’s Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we pray for: - Community of the Paraclete
- Little Sisters of St. Clare
- The Third Order Society of St. Francis
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