Second Anglican Diocese Forms in Pacific Northwest

http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=10107

[VirtueOnline] 18 Mar 2009--A second Anglican diocese has formed outside of The Episcopal Church, but inside its ecclesiastical jurisdiction.

In a historic decision this week signaling a unified faith among Anglican believers in the Pacific Northwest, seven Anglican congregations in Western Washington have come together to form The Diocese of Cascadia. The first Anglican diocese - the Diocese of the Southeast - was formed recently with 73 Anglican clergy and wardens in Jacksonville, Florida, under vicar general the Rev. Neil Lebhar.

Lay and clergy representatives from seven Anglican churches met March 7 at St. Barnabas Anglican Church in Shoreline, Washington, for the first Synod meeting of the new diocese, according to spokesman Mark Cutshall.

A formal application for membership as a diocese-in-formation has been sent to the newly formed Anglican Church in North America (ACNA).

Founding congregations of The Diocese of Cascadia are: St. Barnabas; St. Paul's (Shoreline); St. Brendan's (Bellingham); St. Charles (Poulsbo); St. Peter's (Tacoma); St. Stephen's (Oak Harbor) and St. Ursula's (Sultan). An eighth parish, Trinity (Mt. Vernon), will hold a congregational vote Sunday, March 22.