Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral Calls The Reverend Paul Lebens-Englund as Its Next Dean
Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) July 22, 2014 -- “St. Mark’s is a vibrant, diverse urban congregation with a strong commitment to connecting with our local community. Dean-elect Paul’s experience brings a strong balance of skills in congregation and leadership development, connecting faith and vision with action, and community networking," said Senior Warden Joanne Christ. “He aims to make a significant impact in the lives of congregational members, the local community, and the Episcopal Church in Minnesota by offering joyful and inspiring leadership.”
Reverend Lebens-Englund will be joining Saint Mark’s after serving in a breadth of leadership roles within the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane, most recently as Priest-in-Charge of St. David’s Episcopal Church, Spokane, WA. Following seminary at Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, CA, Rev. Lebens-Englund served as curate at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Spokane, WA. He then served as vicar of Holy Trinity, Spokane, where he spent 2 years re-starting this historic downtown church. After six years of congregational work, Rev. Lebens-Englund served the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane as Canon for Congregational Development and then as Canon to the Ordinary. Prior to attending seminary, Rev. Lebens-Englund worked in community mental health and addiction services.
“I’m committed to a Church that is ‘solid at the core and loose at the margins,’ where real people with real lives can connect in a practical and transformative way to life’s ultimate meaning and purpose through prayer, study, and service,” said Rev. Lebens-Englund. “I’m excited about St. Mark’s commitment to evangelism, growth and to reconnecting with the neighborhood, with the city, and with the Episcopal Church in Minnesota in a meaningful, concrete way. It will be good, hard, holy work — and I trust it will be a good bit of fun, too!”
Joining Fr. Paul is his wife, Erica, and their two sons, Isaac and Owen. Saint Mark’s is looking forward to having them as part of our Cathedral community. Rev. Lebens-Englund’s first services of worship at Saint Mark’s Cathedral is planned for Sunday, September 21st. The Celebration of New Ministry, at which Rev. Lebens-Englund will be installed as Dean, will be Sunday, November 2nd at 4pm — after which time, with a wink, you may kindly refer to him as "the Very Reverend."
About St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral
Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, the Cathedral on Loring Park, is dedicated to ministry characterized by inclusion (All Are Welcome), by Outreach with many thriving food (serving over 1000 meals each month) and shelter ministries and by outstanding musical offerings in a spectacular Cathedral setting. We began in 1858 as a mission of Gethsemane Church, before moving to our Loring Park building in 1910 and being designated a Cathedral in 1941. Built upon the Episcopal pillars of Scripture, Reason, and Tradition, our community respects and thrives on interdependent thinking and thoughtful discussion in love and service to God and to one another.
The Cathedral strives for excellence in all things — from facilitating worship that transforms lives, to valuing creativity and beauty that reveal the presence of God — from learning how to forgive and to reconcile with one another, to engaging in servant ministry among our neighbors and surrounding community. We are here to make a positive difference in the world around us. As the Cathedral of the Episcopal Church in Minnesota, we serve as the 'home church' not only for the Bishop, but also for every Episcopalian in Minnesota. Our doors, therefore, are very wide open, indeed, and the practice of radical hospitality is at the very heart of who we are and what we do. Come and see for yourself!
Kim Mallon Dussault (Director of Communications), Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, http://ourcathedral.org, +1 612-870-7800, [email protected]
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