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.
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.
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
Sasha Cox
Director of OP Kids
Karen Howells
Director of Women’s Formation
Matt Jolley
Director of OP Students
Martha Van Houten
Director of Parish Formation
Alex Wenig
Director of Music
Parish Leadership Team
Bryan Buck
Elder-Spiritual Formation
Sasha Cox
OP Kids
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
Rayla Geppert
OP Kids: Saplings
Josh Hill
Local Missions
Lori Jackson
Global Missions
Jeff Van Houten
Welcome/Hospitality
Martha Van Houten
Liturgy
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