Mission

To abide in Christ Jesus for the renewal of all things.


Vision

Abiding in Christ Jesus, we grow as a community pursuing God’s justice and healing for the nations. We walk humbly with God, take action toward justice, and extend mercy one-to-another (Revelation 22:1-5, Micah 6:6-8).

Walk Humbly with God

We equip people with a theology of biblical justice that leads to the healing of the nations. This is supported annually through regular sermon content, subject experts, and discipleship resources.

Take Action Toward Justice

By 2025, 25% of our annual budget is allocated for gospel-centered ministry to the least, last, and the lost. This will require a 5 percentage point increase in our missional giving each year beginning FY21. Our mission is carried out through local, regional, and global partnerships that are aligned with our values, mission, and vision.

Extend Mercy to One Another

Month-in and month-out we are extending mercy one-to-another fostering a culture of healing within our extended family. This is accomplished through diverse perspectives, thoughtful hospitality, and relational reconciliation.

Our Core Values

guiding everything we do
 

Gospel of Grace

The gospel of grace is the foundation of everything we are and do at Oaks Parish.

At Oaks Parish, we experience holistic flourishing through the person and work of Christ. The death and resurrection of Christ has redeemed us individually, and collectively as a church; we try to mirror that grace in all we do.

 

Formative Rhythms

The rhythms of our life shape our character, and at Oaks Parish we anchor our practices in Scripture and the historical church. Our liturgical and expressive practice of gathered worship on Sunday pervades and shapes our rhythms of prayer, study of Scripture, and gatherings throughout the week. This process of intentional formation, or discipleship, shapes us to be more like Jesus.

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Faithful Presence

We are committed to Portland and aspire to be a church woven into the fabric of the city. Oaks Parish is a uniquely welcoming and inclusive place. We greet our neighbors, friends, families, and co-workers with infectious hospitality, faithfully showing the love of Jesus in Portland.

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Extended Family

Oaks Parish is intensely relational. We strive to live together as a diverse, multi-generational extended family–not just on Sunday, but throughout the week.. We share our stories and how God is redeeming them even as we work, play, and serve together. We want everyone to experience being known and loved in Christ.

 

Staff

 
 

Bryan Buck
Lead Pastor

Karen Howells
Director of Women’s Formation

Martha Van Houten
Director of Parish Formation

Alex Wenig
Director of Music

 

Parish Leadership Team

 
 

Bryan Buck
Elder-Spiritual Formation

Sasha Cox
OP Kids

Luke Creswell
Elder-Hospitality

Karen Howells
Director of Women’s Formation

Rob Howells
Elder-Community Life

Sean Jackson
Elder-Missions/Clerk

Lars Olson
Elder-Finance

 

Parish Ministry Team

 

Brandt Bergeron
Altar Guild

Ed Chow
Tech

Matt DiBiasio
Local Missions

Rayla Geppert
OP Kids: Saplings

Marylu Gray
OP Kids: Teacher Training

Lori Jackson
Global Missions

Joseph Jang
Community Life

Jane Olson
OP Kids: Middle/High School

History

In 2014, Bryan and Amanda Buck moved to Portland to plant a church to serve communities on the southeast side of Portland. Starting Oaks Parish was a unique partnership between the Presbyterian Church in America, the Pacific Northwest Church Planting Network, and Imago Dei Community where Bryan served as a church planter in residence early on. A group of around 30 people formed the original launch team. “Life together” has defined Oaks Parish from its beginning. We’ve always been a church living as extended family, growing as disciples of Jesus, and serving the city.

Oaks Parish was built on a foundation of life-on-life discipleship. Prior to starting the rhythm public worship service, our launch team was invested in discipleship groups that resulted in people following Jesus, some for the first time. The momentum of transformation carried us into the launch of public worship in December 2015, right at the start of the Advent season. In our first years of existence we worshiped at Grout Elementary School where we had a number of opportunities to serve families in our city.

After five years of growth, we became a self-sustaining church in May of 2019. If you’re unfamiliar with the church planting world this is equivalent to moving from the start-up phase to IPO in the marketplace. In September of 2020, we began worshipping at a new location in the Mt. Tabor neighborhood. This location has enabled our ministry capabilities to expand, particular with children’s ministry, and is accessible from a variety of neighborhoods across the city. In the spring of 2021, we introduced a new five-year vision plan to grow as a community of God’s justice and healing as we follow Jesus in making disciples.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God;

to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion—

to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness,

the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.”

— ISAIAH 61:1-3