Alan Murray

Alan was baptized and confirmed as a Roman Catholic in Singapore as a young adult. His faith journey took him through many paths, including years in a Pentecostal church and the United Methodist church. His hunger for liturgy and sacrament drew him to the Episcopal Church. He was received into the Episcopal Church by the Rt. Rev. William Swing, VII Bishop of California, in 2006.

Alan and his husband Tom and their daughter Elizabeth moved from San Francisco to Portland in 2016, and Trinity became their spiritual home. Alan and Tom find different ways to engage in the life of the church; currently, he is the chair of the Cathedral Life Commission and a member of the Family Ministries Commission with his husband. He also enjoys teaching Godly Play to first and second graders. What drew him and his family to Trinity is its radical hospitality, excellent music and liturgy, a vibrant congregation, and a robust family ministry.

Alan is a church governance geek! He served on the Congregation Council at Grace Cathedral San Francisco for six years as a member, Vice-President, and President, and as an ex-officio member of Grace Cathedral Board of Trustees. He was part of the General Convention Deputation from California and Oregon in 2012, 2015, and 2018, and is co-chair for the General Convention deputation for 2021.

Alan's churchwide experience includes serving on the Executive Council Committee on the Status of Women (2012-2015) and he is currently serving on the Task Force on Women, Truth and Reconciliation. He co-chaired the Asian Caucus for the Deputies of Color during the 79th General Convention and is currently the Peace and Justice Coordinator for Province VIII of the Episcopal Church. Recently, he concluded his service on the 11th Bishop of Oregon Search Committee.

Alan graduated from Fresno Pacific Mennonite Seminary with a graduate degree in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling. He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in both California and Oregon, and he works as a Clinical Practice Specialist in Optum, a behavioral department of the UnitedHealth Group.

Alan enjoys gardening, food and wine, reading, walking the family dog and watching the British gardening show “The Gardener’s World." He and his family loves traveling and exploring the great Pacific Northwest!