Dear friend in Christ,

We have good news. Thank you for your prayers through the months of this profile, search, and call process. We have called our next priest in the ongoing chapters of life at Saint Andrew’s. We have called The Very Rev. Paul J. Lebens-Englund to be our next rector. Father Paul, and his family, will be joining us from Saint Mark’s Cathedral in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

From Father Paul:

The Rev. Paul Lebens-Englund is excited to accept a call to serve as rector of Saint Andrew’s, Tacoma beginning November 1st.

Paul and wife, Erica, are both Washington natives, born and raised in Yakima, and both are graduates of The Evergreen State College (‘97 & ‘99). Paul graduated from Church Divinity School of the Pacific in ‘04, was ordained to the diaconate that June and to the priesthood January ‘05. After serving in the Diocese of Spokane for ten years, Paul and his family were called to Minneapolis, MN where Paul serves as Dean of Saint Mark’s Cathedral.

Paul and Erica have two adult sons: Isaac, 22, and Owen, 18. Isaac is entering his final year of a Bachelors in Business Management in St. Paul, MN, and Owen is entering his freshman year at Washington State University in Pullman. As new empty-nesters, Paul and Erica are delighted to return to their extended family here in Washington, including aging parents, siblings, and rising nieces.

In his free time, Paul is a voracious foodie, a mediocre golfer, and an aging marathoner.

The Very Rev. Paul J. Lebens-Englund, Dean
Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral