Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Oregon
As followers of Jesus, we are working toward the practice of unconditional love through the values of:
- Human dignity
- Creation care
- Spiritual formation
About the Bishop
Patrick W. Bell was elected the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Oregon on December 12, 2015 on the first ballot and was consecrated on April 16, 2016 in Bend, Oregon. Upon consecration Bell became the 1,092nd Bishop consecrated for the Episcopal Church. His primary residence will be in Coeur d’Alene, and he will commute to Oregon to work as the Bishop on a part-time basis.
Bell was born and raised in the northern Palouse region of Washington. Raised as an Episcopalian, Bell became a Pentecostal minister and professor before returning to the Episcopal Church. After completing additional seminary studies he was ordained to the priesthood in 1989 by Bishop Rustin Kimsey and began work at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Ontario, Oregon. In 2002 Bell was named the rector of St. Luke’s in Coeur d’Alene. Bell is married to TinaMarie Bell, and has five children and eight grandchildren.
The Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Oregon
Follow the line of the Cascade mountain range in Oregon north to south, and you have the western boundary of the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Oregon. From there, the 69,000-square-mile diocese is bounded by Washington state to the north with a small detour to include Klickitat County, Washington, by Idaho to the east, and Nevada and California to the south.
Rugged and wide open, with mountains and rangeland, high desert and pine forests, fruit orchards and wheat ranches, eastern Oregon lends its own character to the people who live there. The total population of the 18 Oregon counties and one Washington county that compose the diocese is about 552,000. There are more than 2,600 Episcopalians in the diocese’s 22 parishes. Diocesan headquarters are located at Ascension School Camp and Conference Center, in Cove, Oregon – the heart of the diocese.
Created as a missionary district in 1907, EDEO became a diocese in 1980. But the Episcopal presence in eastern Oregon dates to the late 1800s. One circuit riding priest, the Rev. Reuben D. Nevius, especially left his mark. Nevius, also a botanist, worked in eastern Oregon from 1873 to 1879. He designed and built churches, small architectural gems that still serve congregations. Among them: Ascension Chapel, Cove; St. Stephen’s, Baker City; St. James, Milton-Freewater; St. Thomas, Canyon City; and the Diocesan Chapel in The Dalles.
The Rt. Rev. Patrick Bell, who was ordained Bishop Diocesan in April, 2016, is the diocese’s eighth bishop.
Diocesan Clergy
Bishops of the
Episcopal Diocese
of Eastern Oregon
Robert L. Paddock (1907-1922)
William P. Remington (1922-1945)
Lane W. Barton (1946-1968)
William B. Spofford (1969-1979)
Rustin R. Kimsey (1980-2000)
William O. Gregg (2000-2007)
Bavi E. (Nedi) Rivera (2009-2016)
Patrick W. Bell (2016-Present)
The Rev. Joyce Atchley
Deacon – St. Thomas, Canyon City
deaconatchley@gmail.com
The Rev. Charles Barnes
Priest – St. John’s, Hermiston
crbarnes@eotnet.net
The Rev. Paul Barthelemy (licensed)
Priest – Supply
barthelemypaul@gmail.com
The Rev. Anne Bartlett (licensed)
Priest – Supply
abartlett541@gmail.com
The Rt. Rev. Patrick Bell
Bishop of the Diocese of Eastern Oregon
pbell@episdioeo.org
The Rev. Aletha Bonebrake
Vicar – St. Stephen’s, Baker City
alethaboneb@msn.com
The Rev. Jeffery Bullock (licensed)
Priest – Supply
j.bullock@me.com
The Rev. Celine Burke (licensed)
Priest – Chaplain to the Retired Clergy
Celineburke46@gmail.com
The Rev. Susan Church (licensed)
Priest – Supply
Stmavis8@gmail.com
The Rev. Taylor Clark
Deacon – St. Stephen’s, Baker City
taylorbclark@gmail.com
The Rev. John Collins
Assisting Priest – Church of the Transfiguration, Sisters
jrcsisters@gmail.com
The Rev. Jean Cupp
Deacon – Church of the Redeemer, Pendleton
fwcupp@gmail.com
The Rev. Christine Close Erskine (licensed)
Priest
Jerskine15@msn.com
The Rev. Jack Erskine
Priest – Non-Parochial
Jerskine15@msn.com
The Rev. Roger Fairfield
Deacon – Church of the Transfiguration, Sisters
rfairfield@bendcable.com
The Rev. Joseph Farber
Priest – Church of the Transfiguration, Sisters
jwfarber@gmail.com
The Rev. Mary Anne Gard
Priest – Non-Parochial
Gardm27@gmail.com
The Rev. Johathan Galles
Priest
St. Paul’s, The Dalles
info@stpaulsthedalles.org
The Rev. Canon Nancy Sargent Green
Rector/Senior Pastor
All Saints of the Cascades/Sunriver Christian Fellowship
nsm523@aol.com
The Rev. Roy Green
Priest – Non-Parochial
spiritdancer118@gmail.com
The Rev. Linda Hale
Deacon – St. Peter’s, La Grande
l.hale6656@comcast.net
The Rev. Ann Marie Hardin
Priest in Charge – St. James’, Milton Freewater
annmarie45279@gmail.com
The Rev. Jed Holdorph
Rector – Trinity, Bend
jed@trinitybend.org
The Rev. Amy Jayne (Convenant)
Pastor – Ascension School Camp and Conference Center
amy@coveascenionschool.com
The Rev Matthew Littau
St. Andrew’s Episcopal/Peace Lutheran/
Church of the Living Waters, Burns
matthewlittau56@msn.com
The Rev. Mary R. Lujan
Priest – Non-parochial
oregonmary@gorge.net
The Rev. P. Kelly Mahon
Priest – St. Mark’s, Hood River
revmahon@gorge.net
The Rev. Katherine Nesbitt
Priest – St. Patrick’s, Enterprise
katynesbitt@hotmail.com
The Rev. Sean Rogers
Transitional Clergy
St. Matthew’s, Ontario
sean@seanrogers.org
The Rev. Marilyn Roth
Priest – Nonparochial
St. Paul’s, The Dalles
marilyn.roth60@gmail.com
The Rev. Ray Jeff Spreier
Priest – St. Andrew’s, Prineville
revrayjeff@icloud.com
The Rev. Keehna Sture
Deacon – St. Alban’s, Redmond
ksture5983@gmail.com
The Rev. Janet Warner
Deacon – Non-Parochial
Janetlawarner@gmail.com
The Rev. Charlotte Wells
Rector – Church of the Redeemer, Pendleton
rector.pendletonepiscopal@gmail.com
Retired Clergy
The Rev. Rich Attebury
rattebur@gmail.com
The Rev. Connie Boone
connieboone880@gmail.com
The Rev. Chuck Christopher
friarchuck@gmail.com
The Rev. Larry Fredrick
The Rev. Daniel Gardner
Dang1939@gmail.com
The Rev. John Gilsdorf
jkgilsdorf@centurylink.net
The Rev. Georgia Giacobbe
dngeorgia@gmail.com
The Rev. Willa Goodfellow
willagoodfellow@gmail.com
The Rev. Willie Hoffer
The Rev. Rebecca Hendricks
fruitvale@hughes.net
The Rev. Martha Hurlburt
marthahurlburt@gmail.com
The Rev. Canon Lee Kiefer
leekiefer@gmail.com
The Rev. Jan Kozak
Kozaks79@yahoo.com
The Rev. Rich Landrith
RSLandrith@gmail.com
The Rev. John Langfeldt
abunajn@gmail.com
The Rev. Gaye Lawson
glawson@bendcable.com
The Rev. Kathryn Macek
kemacek46@gmail.com
The Rev. Carol Jean McClelland
dandcmcclelland@hotmail.com
The Rev. Jim Mosier
mosierjim@gmail.com
The Rev. John Nesbitt
nesbittjr@frontier.com
The Rev. Carol Parker
jecapar@live.com
The Rev. Steve Schafroth
schafroth@embarqmail.com
The Rev. Janet Schiering
jcsalpha@gorge.net
The Rev. Anne Scissons
ascisns4@live.com
The Rev. Sarah Stanton
sstanton065@gmail.com
The Rev. Red Stevens
redstevensgsm@gmail.com
The Rev. Richard Thew
thewr@coveoregon.com
The Rev. Steve Uffelman
suffelman1@gmail.com
The Rev. Gary Young
garyyong.hoodriver@gmail.com
Diocesan Staff
Diocese Staff
Bishop
The Rt. Rev. Patrick Bell
P.O. Box 236
Cove, OR 97824
pbell@episdioeo.org
Diocesan Administrator and Executive Assistant to the Bishop
Lisa Boquist
lboquist@episdioeo.org
Chancellor
Vacancy
Ascension School Camp & Conference Center
Amy Jayne, Executive Director
amy@coveascensionschool.com
Katie Sanchez, Operations Manager
katie@coveascensionschool.com
Roman Heidrich, Program Director
roman@coveascensionschool.com
Diocesan Council
Adrienne Brown (2022)
Church of the Transfiguration, Sisters
anbviola@bendbroadband.com
Ellen Nesbitt (2022)
St, Patrick’s, Enterprise
ellenanesbitt@gmail.com
The Rev. Charlotte Wells (2022)
Church of the Redeemer, Pendleton
rector.pendletonepiscopal@gmail.com
Barbara Reynolds (2023)
Trinity, Bend
breynolds23@msn.com
Beth Spell (2023)
St. Thomas, Canyon City
jimandbethspell@gmail.com
The Rev. Joseph Farber (2023)
Church of the Transfiguration, Sisters
jwfarber@gmail.com
Betty Palmer (2024)
St. Stephen’s, Baker City
goodenb@gmail.com
Angela Pursel (2024)
St. John’s, Hermiston
apursel@westendradiogroup.com
The Rev. Jay Spreier (2024)
St. Andrew’s, Prineville
revrayjeff@icloud.com
Ex-Officio Members
Vacancy – Chancellor
Patty Olson-Lindsey, Treasurer
lindsey.patty@gmail.com
The Rev. Charlotte Wells, Secretary of Convention
rector.pendletonepiscopal@gmail.com
Minutes of Diocesan Council Meetings
See the Resources page for Council Responsibilities, Rules of Order, and travel reimbursement policies and forms.
2022 Council Meetings
2021 Council Meetings
2020 Council Meetings
2019 Council Meetings
2018 Council Meetings
2017 Council Meetings
2011-2016 Council Meetings
January 2016 Diocesan Council Minutes
March 2016 Diocesan Council Minutes
May 2016 Diocesan Council Minutes
August 2016 Diocesan Council Minutes
November 2016 Diocesan Council Minutes
December 2015 Diocesan Council Minutes
November 2015 Diocesan Council Minutes
August 2015 Diocesan Council Minutes
May 2015 Diocesan Council Minutes
March 2015 Diocesan Council Minutes
February 2015 Diocesan Council Minutes
January 2015 – Diocesan Council Minutes
Minutes from November 14-15, 2014
Minutes from August 8-9, 2014
Minutes from May 30-31, 2014
Minutes from Feb. 8, 2014
Minutes from Jan. 18 2014
November 2013 – Diocesan Council Minutes
August 9, 2013 – Diocesan Council Minutes
May 2013 – Diocesan Council Minutes
March 2013 – Diocesan Council Minutes
January 2013 Retreat – Diocesan Council Minutes
November 2012 Retreat – Retreat Minutes
November 2012 Retreat – Diocesan Council Group Norms
August 2012 – Diocesan Council meeting
August 2012 – Diocesan Council meeting – Addendum
March 2012 – Diocesan Council meeting
February 2012 – Diocesan Council meeting
January 2012 – Diocesan Council meeting
Nov 11-13 Retreat – Word from Council
August 2011 – Diocesan Council minutes
May 2011 – Diocesan Council minutes
March 2011 – Diocesan Council minutes
January 2011 – Diocesan Council minutes
Standing Committee
See the Resources page for Standing Committee Responsibilities, Rules of Order, and travel reimbursement policies and forms.
The Rev. Kelly Mahon, President (2022)
St. Mark’s, Hood River
revmahon@gorge.net
Steve Winkle (2022)
St. Mark’s, Hood River
ppbrowning2@gmail.com
Karly Nash (2023)
Trinity, Bend
karlynash66@gmail.com
The Rev. Ann Marie Hardin (2023)
Church of the Redeemer, Pendleton
annmarie45279@gmail.com
The Rev. Aletha Bonebrake (2024)
St. Stephen’s, Baker City
alethaboneb@msn.com
Terry Rahmsdorff (2024)
Trinity, Bend
trahmsdorff@aol.com
Finance Committee
The finance committee prepares the annual diocesan budget and presents it to Diocesan Council for approval.
The Rt. Rev.Patrick Bell, Bishop
Dianne Barnes
Church of the Redeemer, Pendleton
pendletonredeemertreasurer@gmail.com
Alexis McCarthy
St. John’s, Hermiston
alexispmccarthy@gmail.com
Jerry Frazier
St. Paul’s, The Dalles
jerry1.frazier@gmail.com
Patty Olson-Lindsey, Diocesan Treasurer
lindsey.patty@gmail.com
Ascension School Advisory Board
The Ascension School Board operates in an advisory capacity.
Ascension Board members:
The Rt. Rev. Patrick Bell, Bishop
Makenzie Dyer
Baker City, OR
dyer.makenzie@gmail.com
Cindy Feibert
Ontario, OR
cfeibert@tvcc.cc
Charlie Hammerich
Pullman, WA
Charliechan55555@aol.com
Sean Kimsey
The Dalles, OR
seankimsey@msn.com
The Rev. Kelly Mahon
Hood River, OR
revmahon@gorge.net
George Nairns
Heppner, OR
Gn_arrived@live.com
Terry Rahmsdorff
Bend, OR
trahmsdorf@gmail.com
Aaron Tensen
Florence, OR
aatensen@gmail.com
Amy Tensen
Florence, OR
tensenalynn@gmail.com
Karly Witten
Cove, OR
kwitten@eou.edu
Certified Spiritual Advisors
The Rev. Celine Burke
celineburke46@gmail.com
Helen Keefe
helenkeefesisters@gmail.com
The Rev. Marilyn Roth
marilyn.roth60@gmail.com
The Rev. Janet Warner
janetlawrner@gmail.com
Peggy Ziegler
pjziegler@bendcable.com
St. Gertrude’s Monastery, Cottonwood, ID
The Eastern Oregon Episcopal Foundation
About the Foundation
The Eastern Oregon Episcopal Foundation (EOEF), which oversees a permanent revolving loan fund, was created in 1952 by the 42nd annual Convocation of the Missionary District of Eastern Oregon. The Foundation’s investments presently total about $450,000. In addition, EOEF owns a farm in Athena, Oregon, whose earnings are shared equally by the Foundation, Ascension School, and the diocese. The Bishop is chair of the Foundation Committee and its Board of Trustees.
The Foundation’s purpose, as defined in its articles of incorporation, is “the general furtherance of The Episcopal Church and its mission in eastern Oregon” and the establishment of a permanent fund providing low-cost or interest-free loans of up to 10 years’ duration to finance building projects – building repairs or capital improvements – for parishes and congregations in the diocese.
The Foundation Committee, whose membership includes a member of the laity from each parish in the diocese, meets annually at Diocesan Convention. The Board of Trustees, elected from the Foundation Committee, reviews and administers requests for grants and loans. Grants are confined to projects “for the formation, education and training of the people of the diocese for mission and ministry and/or emergency building grants.”
Information about grants and loans, and application forms, are posted on the Resources page.
Foundation Trustees:
The Rt. Rev.Patrick Bell, Bishop
Jerry Frazier ( Treasurer)
St. Paul’s, The Dalles
Jerry1.frazier@gmail.com
Patti Knollman (2023)
Sunriver Christian Fellowship, Sunriver
pattiknollman@gmail.com
Dave Keeler (2022)
Church of the Redeemer, Pendleton
dkeeler62@gmail.com
Gretchen Kimsey (2022)
St. Paul’s, The Dalles
gretchenbk@gorge.net
Julie Reynolds (2022)
St. Thomas’, Canyon City
julieareynolds@centurytel.net
Joel Bigelow (2024)
St. Stephen’s, Baker City
bigelow@relianceconnects.com
Pat Brim-Williams (2024)
St. Paul’s, The Dalles
patbrimw@gmail.com
Laurance Kerr (2024)
St. Paul’s, The Dalles
lfk-asdk@gorge.net