Diocese of Olympia: Most of St. Luke’s Seattle Leaves TEC

from Stand Firm by Sarah

[Received via email and posted with permission]

Dear Family and Friends, I am writing to update you on what’s happening with the Roddams. First of all, I am stepping down as Rector of St. Luke’s, Seattle after serving in that role for ten years. My last Sunday will be November 21st. This is also the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year. There will be a Combined Service at 9 AM with a reception following. Our daughter Rebekah is planning a reception for us on Saturday November 20th (1 to 5 PM) at St. Luke’s (in Bennett Hall). She calls it a ‘retirement party’ as she has been prophesying me out of parish ministry for several years, believing Holly and I are called to the broader Church and community.

Sunday November 28th will be Advent One (Year A) when about ¾ of the parish will plant a new Anglican parish, leaving The Episcopal Church (TEC). About ¼ of the parish has chosen to remain within TEC and continue at the parish campus as a mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia. This will be a new start for all of us!

For several months before the split in the parish became evident, Holly and I with our parish leadership plus other ministry peers and intercessors sensed that our time at St. Luke’s was finished. St. Luke’s was on the edge financially and we knew that the parish was not able to sustain a full time priest, especially with the added expenses in the transition. At the end of July our parish leadership (vestry) released us. I informed the Bishop of Olympia that the parish had released us due to fiscal pressures. I did not resign. Due to the parish’s financial situation, we were offered about three month’s severance with our medical and pension plans ending at the end of this year (2010). The Bishop and Diocese of Olympia indicated that the diocese would not participate in the severance package – they have no funds for this and are running a deficit.