Spirit of Grace is a community of Lutherans, Catholics, and other faith traditions. From our beginning in 1986, we have been recognized both by the Oregon Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Archdiocese of Portland (under four different archbishops).

In 2023, the Roman Catholic Archbishop sent a letter with a directive, forbidding our Roman Catholic priests from celebrating mass in our shared Lutheran-Catholic congregation. In the wake of that disruption, our community listened deeply for the Spirit’s guidance. Through prayer, discernment, and the affirming voices of our members, Director of Catholic Ministries Vinci Halbrook-Paterson recognized her long-standing call to the priesthood. On May 3, 2025, she was joyfully ordained as Rev. Vinci Halbrook-Paterson—a priest for the whole church, and for Spirit of Grace.
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Our Catholic congregants continue to live out the Catholic faith, striving to build on the vision of Vatican II and live into our unfolding future. Our ecumenical community continues to worship, study, work for justice, and serve those in need as it has for almost four decades. We are a dynamic, questioning, relational community seeking to embody the Lutheran ideal of ecumenical unity in Christ and Catholic Social Teaching, while offering a radical welcome to all people seeking a spiritual home.

All Are Welcome In This Place

We extend a special welcome to all who have been blessed or hurt by church…whether you are a devoted Lutheran, a cradle Roman Catholic, married to a Methodist, raised Jewish, practicing Muslim, observant Hindu, or something else, we hope you find a home here. If this is your first time in a church or if you’re not sure if you believe in God, welcome. If you have ever been bored, burned, or bitter about church, you may find your tribe. We respect those who are single, divorced, LGBTQ, rich, or poor…plus crying newborns, nursing moms, weary dads, and wiggly toddlers. You’re welcome if you’re “just browsing,” just woke up, or just got out of jail.

We welcome those who are over 60 but have not grown up yet, or teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome single parents, gay parents, starving artists, tree huggers, creative entrepreneurs, hipsters, vegetarians, omnivores, those who are in recovery, or still addicted. We welcome those who are inked, pierced, or both. We offer a special welcome to people who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down their throat as a kid, or who got lost in traffic and wound up here by mistake! We welcome tourists, teachers, seekers and doubters, bleeding hearts and healers… and you!

At Spirit of Grace, you are not just welcome—you are wanted. We are an intentional, Reconciling in Christ community of ELCA Lutherans, Roman Catholics, and other faith traditions worshipping and serving together for more than 37 years. We welcome the LGBTQIA community, families, and individuals of all ages and faiths.

We Welcome All

We advocate for the acceptance, full participation, and liberation of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. We strongly disagree with any religious groups that do not welcome all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.

““Everyone is welcome here, regardless of beliefs or doubts. No matter your race, who you love, what you’ve done...you will find acceptance here. Looking for a spiritual community? If you’re curious about this joyful, socially active congregation, come check it out. I did and I stayed. I’m no longer searching for the right church.””

— Jane Kennedy

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All Are Welcome In This Place