The Beginnings of Mission Of The Atonement
November 1985: After 25 years, Atonement Lutheran Church faced inadequate financial resources and declining membership. The congregation considered its options: close its doors or share facilities with another congregation? Pastor Bill Morrissey spent time discussing the options with the church council and people he knew at the Catholic chancery office.
February 1986: Catholic Auxiliary Bishop Ken Steiner opened the door by inviting members of St. Anthony Catholic Church to become part of an ecumenical venture. Over the next four months, members of St. Anthony, met with members of Atonement Lutheran to discuss possibilities and get to know each other. (About 50 families from each congregation participated.)
July 1986: Mission of the Atonement celebrated its first “simultaneous yet separate” worship service with Pastor Morrissey and Catholic priest moderator Father Jim Parker. (The initial joint community consisted of about 50 families, 30 Lutheran and 20 Catholic.) The community decided that the final Sunday of each month should be a lay-led service without Eucharist.
1987: Many changes in church hierarchy could have threatened our existence. Lutheran Bishop Lunde died and Bishop Paul Swanson was elected. Catholic Archbishop Powers retired and Archbishop Levada was appointed. Pastor Bill Morrissey left, and we had a year of interim and fill-in pastors…not all in favor of ecumenism. Priest moderator Jim Parker left and we had several months of visiting priests. The American Lutheran Church became the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
1987-1988: With the help of the Holy Spirit, the community held together, although several families chose to worship elsewhere. By the end of 1987, Father Matt Tumulty joined us as priest moderator. Dale Jamtgaard accepted the call as our Lutheran pastor toward the end of 1988.
April 1989: Mission of the Atonement hosted its first-of-many ecumenical outreach events with church dignitaries. The Lutheran-Catholic Ecumenical day featured speakers Bishop Paul Swanson and Archbishop William Levada.
1992: Catholic President Mike Gilmartin and Lutheran President Bob Gettel sent out a “progress report” to the community. The community now had about 40 families, operating on a “bare bones” yearly budget of $52,000. A two-year subsidy from the Lutheran Synod and the Archdiocese of Portland was coming to an end. The community “met and expressed our desire and commitment to continue our community as a special witness to our Oneness in Christ.” Through an appeal for time, talent, and giving, 21 families committed $35,000. Space was being rented to the Oriental Mission Church for $6,000 a year.
February 1986: Catholic Auxiliary Bishop Ken Steiner opened the door by inviting members of St. Anthony Catholic Church to become part of an ecumenical venture. Over the next four months, members of St. Anthony, met with members of Atonement Lutheran to discuss possibilities and get to know each other. (About 50 families from each congregation participated.)
July 1986: Mission of the Atonement celebrated its first “simultaneous yet separate” worship service with Pastor Morrissey and Catholic priest moderator Father Jim Parker. (The initial joint community consisted of about 50 families, 30 Lutheran and 20 Catholic.) The community decided that the final Sunday of each month should be a lay-led service without Eucharist.
1987: Many changes in church hierarchy could have threatened our existence. Lutheran Bishop Lunde died and Bishop Paul Swanson was elected. Catholic Archbishop Powers retired and Archbishop Levada was appointed. Pastor Bill Morrissey left, and we had a year of interim and fill-in pastors…not all in favor of ecumenism. Priest moderator Jim Parker left and we had several months of visiting priests. The American Lutheran Church became the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
1987-1988: With the help of the Holy Spirit, the community held together, although several families chose to worship elsewhere. By the end of 1987, Father Matt Tumulty joined us as priest moderator. Dale Jamtgaard accepted the call as our Lutheran pastor toward the end of 1988.
April 1989: Mission of the Atonement hosted its first-of-many ecumenical outreach events with church dignitaries. The Lutheran-Catholic Ecumenical day featured speakers Bishop Paul Swanson and Archbishop William Levada.
1992: Catholic President Mike Gilmartin and Lutheran President Bob Gettel sent out a “progress report” to the community. The community now had about 40 families, operating on a “bare bones” yearly budget of $52,000. A two-year subsidy from the Lutheran Synod and the Archdiocese of Portland was coming to an end. The community “met and expressed our desire and commitment to continue our community as a special witness to our Oneness in Christ.” Through an appeal for time, talent, and giving, 21 families committed $35,000. Space was being rented to the Oriental Mission Church for $6,000 a year.
Ending the Century
1996-2000: Our community began to grow, and with that growth came the awareness that our building was in great need of maintenance and repair. The next two years brought the final mortgage payment, and with a few dedicated second collections we put a new slanted roof on, replaced the windows in the fellowship hall, and started a memorial garden.
2000-2002: We continued improvements, replacing carpet throughout the building, installing hardwood flooring in the fellowship hall, replacing the windows in the office and on the back side of the building, and installing a new sound system in the sanctuary. We remodeled and combined two small offices to make a larger, more adequate child care room. After 15 years with us, Fr. Matt announced it was time for him to move to a new ministry. With his guidance, the Transition Team searched for a new priest-moderator. There was a fire in the store room opposite the kitchen. Later, a water drainage problem caused a small flood which threatens to damage our new hardwood floor.
2003: Father Neil Moore joined us and our community continued to grow in size and ministry. The building team visited the Grunewald guild in northern Washington and brought back ideas for building improvments. We entered into a covenant with Bilal Mosque.
2004-2005: Because of our growth and need to use all of our space, the Oriental Mission Church moved to a new location. We felt the need for additional ministerial help. Mary Follen was hired to be our Catholic lay leader and minister of spiritual programs.
2007-2008: Sound baffling wall panels were put up in the fellowship hall. Our sanctuary got a makeover with new paint and new lighting. The narthex and the patio room also got repainted. Audio/video feed from the sanctuary was installed in the patio room. The Long-Range Planning team was established, and as a community we began a visioning process, with small discussion groups meeting in homes.
2000-2002: We continued improvements, replacing carpet throughout the building, installing hardwood flooring in the fellowship hall, replacing the windows in the office and on the back side of the building, and installing a new sound system in the sanctuary. We remodeled and combined two small offices to make a larger, more adequate child care room. After 15 years with us, Fr. Matt announced it was time for him to move to a new ministry. With his guidance, the Transition Team searched for a new priest-moderator. There was a fire in the store room opposite the kitchen. Later, a water drainage problem caused a small flood which threatens to damage our new hardwood floor.
2003: Father Neil Moore joined us and our community continued to grow in size and ministry. The building team visited the Grunewald guild in northern Washington and brought back ideas for building improvments. We entered into a covenant with Bilal Mosque.
2004-2005: Because of our growth and need to use all of our space, the Oriental Mission Church moved to a new location. We felt the need for additional ministerial help. Mary Follen was hired to be our Catholic lay leader and minister of spiritual programs.
2007-2008: Sound baffling wall panels were put up in the fellowship hall. Our sanctuary got a makeover with new paint and new lighting. The narthex and the patio room also got repainted. Audio/video feed from the sanctuary was installed in the patio room. The Long-Range Planning team was established, and as a community we began a visioning process, with small discussion groups meeting in homes.
Big Improvements
2009: In this busy year, we turned the patio room into a library and re-covered the sanctuary chairs. The congregation approved the Long-Range Plan. We built the labyrinth and began working to improve the landscaping and memorial garden. Fr. Neil retired again.
2010: Our community continued to grow and we added a second service beginning in April. Mary Follen moved on to a new ministry and Dan and Linda Mellon became our interim Catholic lay leader team.
2011: We celebrated 25 years as a faith community. Kathy Truman answered the call to be our Catholic lay leader.
Today we are “Opening New Doors”, taking the next big step to build for our future. We at Mission of the "At-one-ment" continue to be an intentional, ecumenical faith community led by the Holy Spirit.
In Gratitude to the Visionaries of the 1980's
2010: Our community continued to grow and we added a second service beginning in April. Mary Follen moved on to a new ministry and Dan and Linda Mellon became our interim Catholic lay leader team.
2011: We celebrated 25 years as a faith community. Kathy Truman answered the call to be our Catholic lay leader.
Today we are “Opening New Doors”, taking the next big step to build for our future. We at Mission of the "At-one-ment" continue to be an intentional, ecumenical faith community led by the Holy Spirit.
In Gratitude to the Visionaries of the 1980's
- Atonement Lutheran Church
- Bill Morrissey, Lutheran Pastor of the original Atonement Lutheran Church
- Bishop Kenneth Steiner, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Portland
- Father Jim Parker, Vicar for Worship and Ministries
- Father Matt Tumulty, Fransican priest and Catholic pastor of MOTA
- Pastor Dale Jamtgaard, Lutheran pastor of MOTA
- Saint Anthony’s Parish, Catholic congregation
