JOURNAL OF THE 58 TH ANNUAL DIOCESAN CONVENTION OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE DIOCESE OF NORTHWEST TEXAS November 17-19, 2016 Lubbock, Texas THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA The Most Reverend Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop & Primate The Reverend Gay Clark Jennings, President of the House of Deputies OFFICERS OF THE SEVENTH PROVINCE President: Ms. Sherry Denton, Diocese of Western Kansas Vice-President: The Right Reverend Edward Konieczny, Diocese of Oklahoma Secretary: Ms. Kate Huston, Diocese of Oklahoma Treasurer: Deacon Nancy Igo, Diocese of Northwest Texas DIOCESE OF NORTHWEST TEXAS The Right Reverend J. Scott Mayer, Bishop of Northwest Texas
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JOURNAL OF THE 58TH ANNUAL DIOCESAN CONVENTION OF … · 2019. 3. 28. · CLERGY OF THE DIOCESE OF NORTHWEST TEXAS IN ORDER OF CANONICAL RESIDENCE (As of Annual Convention, 2016)The
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JOURNAL OF
THE 58TH ANNUAL DIOCESAN CONVENTION
OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE
DIOCESE OF NORTHWEST TEXAS
November 17-19, 2016
Lubbock, Texas
THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA The Most Reverend Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop & Primate
The Reverend Gay Clark Jennings, President of the House of Deputies
OFFICERS OF THE SEVENTH PROVINCE President: Ms. Sherry Denton, Diocese of Western Kansas
Vice-President: The Right Reverend Edward Konieczny, Diocese of Oklahoma Secretary: Ms. Kate Huston, Diocese of Oklahoma
Treasurer: Deacon Nancy Igo, Diocese of Northwest Texas
DIOCESE OF NORTHWEST TEXAS The Right Reverend J. Scott Mayer, Bishop of Northwest Texas
Table of Contents
Diocesan Directory Bishop's Sta ff --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1
Churches of the Diocese as of Convention 2016------------------------------------------------- 2
Clergy of the Diocese of Northwest Texas in Order of Canonical Residence-------------- 3
Committees and Commissions ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 6
Licensed Lay Ministers as of Convention 2016 --------------------------------------------------- 9
5gth Annual Diocesan Convention
Minutes of the 53th Ann u a I Convention---------------------------------------------------------- 13
Attachment A: Final Report of the Credentials Committee--------------------------------- 30
St. Michael’s and All Angels’, Shamrock (Congregation)
St. Stephen’s, Sweetwater (Mission)
Grace, Vernon (Mission)
College Ministries as of Convention 2016 Canterbury Episcopal Campus Ministry, Lubbock
United Campus Ministries, San Angelo
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CLERGY OF THE DIOCESE OF NORTHWEST TEXAS IN ORDER OF CANONICAL RESIDENCE
(As of Annual Convention, 2016)
The Bishop
The Right Reverend James Scott Mayer, ordained Bishop 21 March 2009 (received from Dallas, 9 August 1994). TX Tech U BBA 77 ETSS MDiv 92.
The Presbyters
1. The Rev. James Vincent Aveni, Jr., ordained 13 November 1999. Priest, St. John the Baptist Mission, POBox 1864, Clarendon, Texas 79226. Amarillo College Assoc 76. WTSU BGS 78. Our Lady of the Lake UMSW 80.
2. The Rev. David Jefferson Mossbarger, received from West Texas, 25 February 2003. Rector, St. Barnabas’Parish, 4141 Tanglewood, Odessa, TX 79762. SMU BA, ETSS MDiv 85.
3. The Rev. John Phillip Corbett, received from Rio Grande, 18 March 2003. Priest, Good Shepherd Mission,Brownfield. PO Box 635, O’Donnell, Texas 79351. Eastrn New Mex U BA 60.
4. The Rev. James Hudson Smart, ordained 8 May 2004. Priest, St. Mark’s Parish, 3150 Vogel, Abilene, Texas79603. McMurry Col BS 70, Tex Tech U JD 73.
5. The Rev. Richard Louis Nelson, Jr., received from Wyoming, 11 December 2004. Non-Parochial. PO Box82, Burton TX 77835. U Mo BA 98 ETSS MDiv 04.
6. The Rev. Celia Norman Ellery, ordained 18 December 2004. Rector, Good Shepherd Parish, 720 S. AbeStreet, San Angelo, Texas 76903. Ark Tech U BA 77. SWTX St MA 82. ETSS MDiv.
7. The Rev. Beverly Schmidt Couzzourt, ordained 30 September 2006. Non-parochial, 2106 7th Ave.,Amarillo, TX 79015. WtxSt U BGS, 81.
8. The Rev. Joseph David Williams, ordained 30 September 2006. Priest, St. Peter’s Parish, PO Box 138,
Borger, Texas 79008. Frank Phillips Col. TxTech U.9. The Rev. Dr. Philip Carroll Ray, ordained 12 November 2006. Rector, St. James’ Parish, 801 Denver,
Dalhart, Texas 79022. K SU BS 65. U Mo DDS 69. Angelo St U MS 91, ETSS CITS 0610. The Rev. Mary Elizabeth Glover, received from West Missouri, 14 November 2006. Rector, St. Mark’s
Parish, 3150 Vogel, Abilene, Texas 79603. McMurry Coll Abilene TX BS 78. S Mary’s U San Antonio TX JD88. ETSS MDiv 01.
11. The Rev. Jennifer Holder, received from Dallas, 01 April 2008. Chaplain, Canterbury Episcopal Ministry,2407 16th Street, Lubbock, Texas 79401 and Priest in Charge, St. Christopher’s Parish, 2807 42nd St.,Lubbock, TX 79413. U TX BA 73. Brite Divinity School MDiv 99, DMin 06.
12. The Rev. James Paul Haney, V, received from Kansas, 19 August 2008. Rector, St. Paul’s-on-the-PlainsParish, 1510 Avenue X, Lubbock, Texas 79401. TX Tech U BA 85. SWTS MDiv 95.
13. The Rev. Jean Pearson Scott, ordained, 20 September 2008. Non-Parochial. 3203 23rd Street, Lubbock,Texas 79410 U NC Greensboro BS 73, MS 76, PhD 79. Reading for Orders NWTX 08.
14. The Rev. Kara Leslie Stalcup Wischmeyer, received from Dallas, 4 March 2009. Non-Parochial. 4520 13th
Street, Lubbock, Texas 79416. Emory U AA 88, Emory U BA 90, Texas Tech U MEd 94, Candler TS EmoryU MDiv 98.
15. The Rev. Barbara Kirk-Norris, received from Kentucky, 14 August 2009. Associate Rector, Holy Trinity,1412 West Illinois, Mikdland, Texas 79701. Hiwasee Coll AS 87, Middle TNSU BS 90, U TN Knoxville MS 93,VTS MDiv 04.
16. The Rev. Walter Lawrence (Chip) Prehn, received from West Texas, 12 August 2010. Head of School,Trinity Midland. 3500 W Wadley, Midland, Texas 79707. Texas A&M U BA 79, Nash MDiv 85.
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17. The Rev. Nathaniel Luke Back, received from Oklahoma, 19 August 2010. Rector, Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander, Abilene, Texas 79602. OU BA 95, OU MEd, VTS MDiv 02.
18. The Rev. Amanda Jane Price Watson, ordained 25 September 2010. Assistant Priest, Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander, Abilene, Texas 79602. Del Mar Junior College AA 64. UT BA 66. Texas A&I Corpus Christi, St. Mary’s Seminary Houston, NWTX SOM 16.
19. The Rev. James David Perdue, received from Oklahoma, 31 August 2010. Rector, St. Stephen’s Parish, 1101 Slide Road, Lubbock, Texas 79416. OU Pharm Degree 72. SSW MDiv 08.
20. The Rev. Robert Frederick Pace, ordained 10 December 11. Rector, St. Andrew’s Parish, 1601 South Georgia, Amarillo, Texas 79102. Austin Col BA 88. TCU MA 90, PhD 92. SSW MDiv 12.
21. The Rev. Scott Robert Lee, ordained 14 January 2012. Non-Parochial, 2509 Brookhaven Drive, Edmond, Oklahoma 73034. TTU BS 96. SSW MDiv 12.
22. The Rev. Canon Joseph Michael Ehmer, received from West Tennessee, 1 July 2012. Canon to the Ordinary, the Diocese of Northwest Texas, 1802 Broadway, Lubbock, Texas 79401. U Fla BS 74. RPI MBA 82. ETSS MDiv 99.
23. The Rev. Albert Moreno (Casas), received from Northern Mexico 1 July 2012, Vicar San Miguel Arcangel Mission, 907 North Adams Avenue, Odessa, Texas 79701. Pontificia Universita’ Gregoriana BA 01 MBT 04, Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca MSE 07, Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi BA 83.
24. The Rev. Matthew Robert Rowe, received from Mississippi 23 August 2012. Rector, Emmanuel Parish, 3 South Randolph, San Angelo, Texas 76903. Biola U BS 86. ETSS Div 93.
25. The Rev. Jared Foster Houze, ordained 19 January 2013. Vicar, St. Stephen’s Mission, 502 Locust Street, Sweetwater 79556 and All Saints’ Mission, 304 Locust Street, Colorado City 79512. Hardin Simmons U BBS 04. SSW MDiv 13.
26. The Rev. Susanna Paige Cates, ordained 26 January 2013. Non-parochial, 121 South St., Morristown, NJ 07960. Troy U BS 09. SSW MDiv 13.
27. The Rev. Claude William Betty, ordained 8 June 2013. Priest, All Saints’ Mission, 2001 Jefferson, Perrtyon, Texas 79070. U Tx MD 64, NWTX Bi-Vocational Priesthood Formation 13.
28. The Rev. Mark William Lang, ordained 8 June 2013. Priest, St. Matthew’s Parish, 727 W. Browning, Pampa, Texas 79065. NWTX Bi-Vocational Priesthood Formation 13.
29. The Rev. William Charles Smith, ordained 8 June 2013. Priest, St. Matthew’s Parish, 727 W. Browning, Pampa, Texas 79065. NWTX Bi-Vocational Priesthood Formation 13.
30. The Rev. David Bruce Huxley, received from Milwaukee, 16 September 2013. Rector, St. Nicholas’ Parish, 4000 W. Loop 250 N., Midland, Texas 79701. Nash MDiv 04.
31. The Rev. Claire Meadows Cowden, ordained 13 December 2014. Curate, St. Andrew’s Parish, 1601 South Georgia, Amarillo Texas 79102. SMU BA 86, TTU HSC BSN 92, SSW MA 96, SSW Dplma Angl Studies 15.
32. The Rev. Nathan Eric Mancil, received from Central Gulf Coast, 1 July 2015. Curate, Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander, Abilene, Texas 79602. Auburn BME 05, Auburn Med 09, VTS MDiv 15.
33. The Rev. David Galletly, received from the Los Angeles, 6 October 2015. Rector, Holy Trinity, 1412 W. Illinois, Midland, TX 79701. U CA BA 82, GTS MDiv 83. CDSP MDiv 91.
34. The Rev. Douglas Paul Thomas, ordained 12 December 2015. Assistant Priest, Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander, Abilene, Texas 79602. CA Baptist College BA 69, CA State U MA 75, US International U Ph.D. 81, NWTX School of Ordained Ministry 16.
35. The Rev. James A. Walker, ordained 12 December 2015. Vicar, St. Luke’s, 1103 West State Road 300, Levelland, Texas 79336. TX Tech U BBA 74, MPA 95, NWTX SOM 16.
36. The Rev. Jill Anne Walters, ordained 12 December 2015. Associate Rector, St. Andrew’s, 1601 S. Georgia, Amarillo, Texas 79102. Austin College Sherman BA 87, U of NTX Denton MS 90 Ph.D. 94, NWTX SOM 16.
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The Deacons 1. Deacon Gary Eugene Bilby, ordained 29 October 1999. All Saints’ Mission, 1501 S Grinnell, Perryton,
Texas 79070. 2. Deacon Melissa Lee Wafer-Cross, ordained 29 October 1999. Christopher’s Parish, 3502 47th Street,
Lubbock, Texas 79413. Tex Tech U BA 70, MA 96. 3. Deacon Nikki Casner Jones, ordained 29 October 2000. St. Stephen’s Mission,1514 Neff, Sweetwater,
Texas 79556. Hardin-Simmons U, BA 65. 4. Deacon Mary Suzanne Wilkinson, ordained 29 October 2000. St. Matthew’s Parish, HCR 4 Box 16,
Pampa, Texas 79065. Kennedy U BS 90, MS 94. 5. Deacon Carole Ricketts, ordained 28 October 2001. Non-Parochial. 133 Olivia’s Court, Tuscola, Texas
79562. Sam Houston St U, BA 76. 6. Deacon Thomas D. Burns, ordained 27 October 2002. St. Nicholas Parish, Midland. 4000 W Loop 250N,
Midland, Texas 79707. U WI 82. 7. Deacon Connetta Bertrand Fowler, ordained 27 October 2002. St Mary the Virgin Parish, 430 Dallas, Big
Spring, Texas 79720. TWU BS 54. 8. Deacon John Harris Marshall, ordained 27 October 2002. St Mary the Virgin Parish. 430 Dallas, Big
Spring, Texas 79720. Westminster Coll BS 68, U of Houston OD 79. 9. Archdeacon Christopher Kent Wrampelmeier, ordained 9 November 2003. St. Andrew’s Parish, 1601 S.
Georgia, Amarillo, Texas 79102. Princeton BA 86, UT JD 93. 10. Deacon Diedre Schuler Ballou, ordained 29 October 2006. St. Andrew’s Parish, 1601 S. Georgia,
Amarillo, Texas 79102. TxTechU BBA 1983. 11. Deacon Gary Lee Sanford, ordained 29 October 2006. Chaplain, ASU United Campus Ministries, 2453
Dena Drive, San Angelo, Texas 76904. 12. Deacon Peggy Lee Valentine, ordained 28 October 2007. St. Mark’s Parish, 3150 Vogel, Abilene, Texas
79603. SUNY at Fredonia BS 68. Hardin Simmons U M 84. 13. Deacon Leroy O. Morrison, received from Central New York 15 January 2009. St. Barnabas’ Parish, 4141
Tanglewood, Odessa, Texas 79762. 14. Deacon Becky Jane Tilton Orem, ordained 3 December 2011. St. Paul’s-on-the-Plains, 1510 Avenue X,
Lubbock, Texas 79413. TTU BS 75. TTU MS 85. 15. Deacon Nancy Elle Igo, ordained 17 November 2012. Non-Parochial. 1802 Broadway, Lubbock, Texas
79401. TTU BS 78. 16. Deacon Paige Higley McKay, ordained 1 December 2012. St. Stephen’s Parish, 1101 Slide Road,
Lubbock, Texas 79416. TU BA 89. 17. Deacon Douglas Hanson Cashell, ordained 16 November 2013. St. Christopher’s Parish, 2807 42nd
Street, Lubbock, Texas 79413. Frostburg St BS 65, Penn State Med 69. 18. Deacon Thomas Aaron Keith, ordained 12 December 2015. Grace, 3207 Indian, Vernon, TX 76385. NWTX
SOM 16. 19. Deacon Dave Edward Blakley, ordained 23 January 2016. St. Andrew’s Parish, 1601 S. Georgia, Amarillo,
Texas 79102. WTSU BBA 1972, NWTX SOM 16. 20. Deacon Mildred Susan Rugger, ordained 23 January 2016. St. Andrew’s Parish, 1601 S. Georgia,
Amarillo, Texas 79102. Faith Baptist Bible BS 1982, U N Iowa MA, 1986, NWTX SOM 16. 21. Deacon Justin Thomas Gibson, ordained 4 June 2016. St. James’, 801 Denver, Dalhart, TX 79022. LCU
BA, BSW 10, Emory U MDiv 16. 22. Deacon Christian Robert Rabone, ordained 4 June 2016. Emmanuel, 3 S. Randolph, San Angelo, TX
76903. U of AR BS 83, U of N TX M Ed 89, SSW MDiv 16.
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COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS (Number in parentheses indicates year the term ends)
STANDING COMMITTEE The Rev. Matt Rowe, Emmanuel, San Angelo, President (17) Ms. Jane M. Wolf, St. Nicholas, Midland, Secretary (18) Mrs. Barbara Tom Jowell, Holy Trinity, Midland (17) The Rev. Claire Cowden, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo (18) The Rev. David Perdue, St. Stephen’s, Lubbock (19) Mrs. Mary Emeny, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo (19) NORTHWEST TEXAS EPISCOPAL BOARD OF TRUSTEES The Rt. Rev. J. Scott Mayer, Bishop of the Diocese, President Mr. Paul Goebel, St. Paul’s, Lubbock, Vice President (17) Mr. Thomas Choate, Church of the Heavenly Rest, Abilene, Chancellor (19) Mr. Carrol Holley, St. Stephen’s, Lubbock, Treasurer (19) The Rev. Canon Mike Ehmer, Canon to the Ordinary, Non-voting Secretary Mrs. Nancy Estes, Church of the Heavenly Rest (18) Mrs. Sally Emerson, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo (19) Mr. Frank Deaderick, St. John’s, Odessa (20) Mr. Ricky Bowman, St. Stephen’s. Sweetwater (21) EXECUTIVE COUNCIL The Rt. Rev. J. Scott Mayer, Bishop of the Diocese, President The Rev. Canon Mike Ehmer, Canon to the Ordinary Ms. Yvonne Batts, Church of the Heavenly Rest, Abilene, Vice President (18) Mr. Thomas Choate, Church of the Heavenly Rest, Abilene, Chancellor (19) Mr. Carrol Holley, St. Stephen’s, Lubbock, Treasurer (19) Mr. Michael Pullen, St. Stephen’s, Lubbock, Secretary (19) Deacon Dede Schuler Ballou, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo (17) Mrs. Annabel House, Church of the Heavenly Rest, Abilene (17) The Rev. Jennifer Holder, Canterbury Lubbock & St. Mark’s, Plainview (18) The Rev. Jared Houze, All Saints’, Colorado City & St. Stephen’s, Sweetwater (19) Mr. Bill Heck, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo (19) Mrs. Nancy McReynolds, ECW President (19)
COMMISSION ON MINISTRY The Rev. Canon Mike Ehmer, Canon to the Ordinary, Chair (16) Ms. Elizabeth Thames, Secretary Deacon Nikki Jones, St. Stephen’s, Sweetwater (17) The Rev. Jim Liggett, Retired (17) Mrs. Cindy Phelps Streit, St. Stephen’s, Lubbock (17) The Rev. Luke Back, Heavenly Rest, Abilene (18) Mrs. Jane Wolf, St. Nicholas’, Midland (18) Archdeacon Chris Wrampelmeier, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo (18) The Rev. Barbara Kirk-Norris, Holy Trinity, Midland (19) Deacon Becky Tilton Orem, St. Paul’s, Lubbock (19) Mrs. Mary Tinsley, Emmanuel, San Angelo (19) The Rev. Jean Scott, non-parochial (20)
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CONSTITUTION AND CANONS Mr. Scott Bishop, Heavenly Rest, Abilene, Chair (17) Mr. Tom Choate, Chancellor, Heavenly Rest, Abilene, (ex-officio) The Rev. Canon Mike Ehmer, Canon to the Ordinary (17) The Rev. David Huxley, St. Nicholas’, Midland (18) Mrs. Nancy McReynolds, St. Christopher’s, Lubbock (18) Mrs. Karon Bonnell, St. Matthew’s Pampa (19) The Rev. Jim Haney, St. Paul’s. Lubbock (19) CHURCH PENSION FUND COMMITTEE, 2017 Mr. Carrol Holley, Treasurer The Rev. Canon Mike Ehmer, Canon to the Ordinary Mrs. Anna Mora, Diocesan Financial Officer The Rev. Edson Way, St. Mary’s, Big Spring The Rev. Bill Wright, Chaplain to the Retired Clergy/Spouses CONVENTION PLANNING COMMITTEE, 2017 Mrs. Jill Bishop, Heavenly Rest, Abilene, Chair Ms. Yvonne Batts, Heavenly Rest, Abilene The Rev. Luke Back, Heavenly Rest, Abilene The Rev. Canon Mike Ehmer, Canon to the Ordinary (ex-officio) Mrs. Anna Mora, Diocesan Finance Manager Ms. Elizabeth Thames, Diocesan Administrator DAUGHTERS OF THE KING PRESIDENT, 2017 Ms. Courtney McAlister, St. Paul’s, Lubbock DISCIPLINARY BOARD Mrs. Sally Emerson, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo, Church Attorney Ms. Mary Lou Cassidy, Holy Trinity, Midland, Intake Officer Mrs. Joan Whitt, St. Nicholas’, Midland (17) The Rev. David Huxley, St. Nicholas’, Midland (17) The Rev. Celia Ellery, Good Shepherd, San Angelo (18) Mr. Don Griffis, Good Shepherd, San Angelo (18) Ms. Debbie Cox, St. Stephen’s, Lubbock (19) The Rev. David Perdue, St. Stephen’s, Lubbock (19) The Rev. Jill Walters, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo (19) ECUMENICAL OFFICER, 2017 The Rev. Edson Way, St. Mary’s, Big Spring EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY DIOCESAN COORDINATOR, 2017 Mr. Richard Partney, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN, 2017 Ms. Nancy McReynolds, St. Christopher’s, Lubbock, President Ms. Jo Ann Rachele, Emmanuel, San Angelo, Communications Mrs. Paula Howbert, Holy Trinity, Midland, Treasurer Mrs. Cindy Olive, Holy Trinity, Midland, UTO Coordinator Ms. Claire Randolph, St. Christopher’s, Lubbock, Member at Large
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Mrs. Mary Williams, St. Nicholas, Midland, Member at Large Ms. Mary Darby, Emmanuel, San Angelo, Member at Large FRESH START COORDINATORS/FACILITATORS, 2017 The Rev. Canon Mike Ehmer, Canon to the Ordinary Deacon Nancy Igo, Director of Communications and Human Resources MISSIONS COMMITTEE, 2017 The Rev. Jim Walker, St. Luke’s, Levelland, Convener Mrs. Carole Horne, St. Mark’s Coleman The Rev. Jared Houze, St. All Saint’s, Colorado City & St. Stephen’s, Sweetwater Mrs. Jane Ferris, St. George’s, Canyon Mr. Todd Greenwood, Grace, Vernon Mrs. Frances Robins, St. Paul’s, Dumas NATIONAL EPISCOPAL HEALTH MINISTRY DIOCESAN LIASION, 2017 Deacon Nancy Igo, Director of Communications and Human Resources YOUTH COUNCIL, 2017 Mrs. Renee Haney, St. Paul’s, Lubbock, Chair Ms. D’Anne Asquith, St. Paul’s, Lubbock Mr. Ben Ellery, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo The Rev. David Galletly, Holy Trinity, Midland The Rev. Jared Houze, All Saints’, Colorado City & St. Stephen’s, Sweetwater Ms. Courtney McAlister, St. Paul’s, Lubbock 79407 Mr. Chase Monson, Emmanuel, San Angelo Mr. Nate Stidham, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo YOUTH EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, 2017 Parker Edington, Heavenly Rest, Abilene Kenda Fawell, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo Mitchell Gallagher, St. Luke’s UMC, Lubbock Micah Huff, Good Shepherd, Brownfield Maddie Keen, St. Paul’s, Lubbock Blakely Miullsaps, Heavenly Rest, Abilene Nicholas Neighbor, Emmanuel, San Angelo Sequoyah Perry III, St. Paul’s, Lubbock Savannah Reese, St. Stephen’s, Lubbock Julia White, Emmanuel, San Angelo UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH TRUSTEES, 2017 The Rt. Rev. J. Scott Mayer, Bishop of the Diocese Mr. Ken Baxter, St. Michael & All Angels, Shamrock (19) Mr. John Hill, Heavenly Rest, Abilene (19) The Rev. Barbara Kirk-Norris, Holy Trinity, Midland (19)
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DIOCESE OF NORTHWEST TEXAS
LICENSED LAY MINISTERS as of Convention 2016
Abilene, Heavenly Rest Abilene, St. Mark's
Jackie Batjer - m, v, w 17 Mark Dentzer - m, v, w 17 Bruce McAda - m 17
Yvonne Batts - m 17 Delia Elliott - m 17 Maggie McGee - m 17
Mary Brassell - v, w 17 Loretta Fulton - m 17 Donna Miller - m 17
Donald Bridges - m, v, w 17 Denise Hassel - m 17 Susan Milligan - m 17
Barbradon Brooks - v, w 17 Scott Hassel - m 17 Victoria Morris - m 17
Mary Buzan - m 17 Fred Watson - m, v 17 Amy Morrison - m 17
Lloyd "Lew" Carter - m, w 17 Nancy Novak - m 17
Tom Choate - m, w 17 Albany, Trinity Judy Nunn - m 17
Connie Collier - m, v, w 17 Randy Bacon - m, w 17 Richard Partney - m, v, w 17
Barton Cox - m, v, w 17 Lawrence Bell - m, w 17 Don Paxton - m 17
Ann Danehower - m, v, w 17 Leta McKinley Bell - m, w 17 Neil Quattlebaum - v 17
Judy Deaton, m, w 17 Sr., Mary Frances Dulen - m, v, w 17 Dan Reed - m 17
Martha Ferguson - v 17 John Matthews - m, v, w 17 Deborah Rolland - m 17
Paul Fulham - m 17 Allen Maurer - m, w 17 Mary Rusk - m 17
Pat Garren - m, w 17 Martha Russell 17
Annabel House Gross - m, w 17 Amarillo, St. Andrew's Miriam Scott - m, v 17
Clancy Hart - v 17 Jerry Allsup - m 17 Steve Severn - m 17
Pat Heath - v 17 Mary Bohannon - m 17 Darren Sorrells - m 17
John Hill - m 17 Tammy Breitbarth - m 17 Nathan Stidham - v 17
Ann Hollandsworth - m 17 Kay Brizzolara - m 17 Sharon Stones - v 17
Rebecca Kello - m 17 Leesa Wood Calvi - m 17 Georgia Swift - m 17
Nolan Kelly - v 17 Kimberly Carter - m, v 17 Diane Vinyard 17
Mark McCarty - m, v, w 17 Laurie Cizon - m 17 Doug Voran - m. v 17
Letha Morris - m, w 17 M. J. Coats - m, v 17 Heather Voran - m, v 17
Paul Potter - m 17 Cliff Craig - m, v 17 Jim Whitton - m 17
Susie Ramsey - v 17 Kay Craighead - m 17 Susan Willis - m 17
Sharon Rathbun - v 17 Wendell Davies - m 17 Michele Wilt - m 17
India Reynolds - m 17 Mary Emeny - m 17 Rex Wilt - m 17
Chris Rockett - m, w 17 Don Emerson - m 17 Lil Withrow - v 17
Suzie Rockett - m, w 17 Sally Emerson - m 17 Taylor Withrow - m, v 17
Debbie Sherman - w 17 Judith Evans - m, v 17 Debbie Wynne - m 17
Caroline Smith - p 17 David Fairbanks - m 17
Julie Stoner - m 17 Mariada George - m 17 Amarillo, St. Peter's
John Stowe - m, w 17 Amy Gililland - m 17 Delores Cole - m, w 18
Colby Walker - m 17 Frank Howell - m 17 Deborah Condren - m, w 18
John Walton - w 17 Dwight Huber - m 17 Brenda Dryer - m 18
Rick Willis - v 17 Terry Jones - m 17 G.W. Frazier - m, w,p 18
Katie Young - m 17 Robert Kauffman - m 17 Eleanor Frazier - m 18
Robert Young, Jr. - m, v, w 17 Alan Kee - m 17 Monica Grosch - m 18
Terry Young - m, w 17 Whitney Kelly - m 17 Jeff Kerr - m, w 18
Patricia Maddox - m, v 17 Ruther Rutledge - m 18
Diane Mason - m 17 Jeannette Wedding - m, w 18
Vic Maza - m 17
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DIOCESE OF NORTHWEST TEXAS
LICENSED LAY MINISTERS as of Convention 2016
Big Spring, St. Mary's Coleman, St. Mark's Levelland, St. Luke's
Lea Faulks - m, w 19 Margie Dodson - m, v, w 18 Debra Burnett - m, v, w 19
Becky Henry - m, v 19 Patty Eubank - m, v, w 18 Robby Timberlake - m, v, w 19
Charla Lewis - w 19 Carole Horne - c 18
Charlie Lewis - m 19 Nancy Jones - m, v, w 18 Lubbock, Canterbury at Texas Tech
Haley Lewis - m 19 Ross Jones - m, v, w 18 Macy Boniwell - m, w 17
Robert Miller - m, w 19 Charlotte Purl - m, v 18 Jimmy Haney - m, w 17
Jean Money - m, w 19 Baker Rudolph - m, v, w 18 Sam Pixley - m, w 17
Gary Srickland - m, v, w, c 18 Virginia Stokes - m, w 17
Borger, St. Peter's Nolan Tidwell - m, v, w 18 Renita Walzel - m, w 17
Julie Casey - m 19 Darlene Webb - m, v, w 18
Judy Flanders - v, w 19 Sister Brigit Carol - m, v, w 18 Lubbock, St. Christopher's
Carolyn Miller - m, v, w 19 Jane Barnes - m, w 19
Jordan Miser - m, w 19 Colorado City, All Saints' Annie Cashell - m, w 19
Moody Morrow - m, v 19 Shirley DeLaney - m, w 17 Suzanne Copeland - m, w 19
Ralph Pumphrey - m, w 19 Julie Erwin - m, w 17 Karen Hodges - m 19
Diane Weaver - v 19 Stephen Smith - m, w 17 Betty Hodgson - m 19
Ryne Williams - m, w 19 Carolyn Jones - m, w 19
Dalhart, St. James Jan Kireilis - m, v, w 19
Brownfield, Good Shepherd Michael Bezner - m 17 Frances Lohmann-Smith - m, v, w 19
Eunice Corbett - m 19 Gerald Burney - m, v, w 17 Deborah Maines - m, v, w 19
Claudia Furlow - m, w 19 Adrian Day - m 17 Nancy McReynolds - m, v, w 19
Emily Snodgrass - m, w 19 Carole Farris - m 17 Karl Morris - m, v, w 19
Kay Witt - m, w 19 Jerry Hunter - m 17 Jack Purkeypile - m, v, w 19
Jeff Hutton - m 17 Missy Ratcliff - m, v 19
Canyon, St. George's Gary Johnson - p 17 Alvin Stofel - m 19
Lance Bernard - m, v, w 17 Rebecca Lackie - m 17 Candida Thew - v 19
Don Clewett - m, v, w, p 17 Wes Ralston - m, v, v 17 Carole Wolf - m, w 19
Catherine Clewett - m, w, v 17 Sarah Ray - p, m, v 17 John Wolf - m, v, w 19
Annelle Cockrell - m, w, p, v 17 Claire Snead - m 17
John Cockrell - m, w 17 Will Snead - m 17
S. Gardner Collins - m, v, w 17 Lubbock, St. Paul's
Jane Farris - m, w 17 Dumas, St. Paul's Alyce Ashcraft - m 19
Adrian Guzman - m, w 17 Stephen Henthorn - m, v, w 17 Jim Brown - m 19
Kennedy Raphelt - m 17 Connie Reeve - m,w 17 Sally Brown - v 19
William Raphelt - m, w 17 Frances Robins - m, v, w 17 Becky Ellison - m 19
Mildred Rugger - m, w, p 17 Sid Friend - m 19
Bill Threlfall - m, w 17 Hereford, St. Thomas' Katherine Goebel - m 19
Courtney Withers - m, w 17 Chad Beavers - m, w 19 Sheila Gray - m, w 19
Christine Beavers - m, v, w 19 Lisa Haney - m 19
Clarendon, St. John's Linda Gilbert - m, w 19 Renee Haney - m, v, w 19
Rhonda Aveni - m, w 19 Gerald Payne - m, w 19 James P. Haney, VI - m 19
Karen Payne - m 19 Trey Hill - m, w 19
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DIOCESE OF NORTHWEST TEXAS
LICENSED LAY MINISTERS as of Convention 2016
Bart Howard - m 19 Terry Jolliffe - m, v 17 Odessa, St. John's
Linda Jones - m 19 Elaine McGruder - m, v 17 Doretta Belanger - v 17
Helen Liggett - m 19 Cindy Olive - m, v 17 James E. Caddell - m 17
Oliver Lucero - m 19 Don Olive - m, v 17 Roberta Caffrey - v 17
Kathleen McCutchan - m, v 19 David Overton - m, v 17 Kathy Campbell - m, v 17
James McNabb - m, v 19 Abby Overton - m. v 17 Amanda Demers - m 17
Charles Mire - m, v 19 Bill Schammel - m, v 17 Betty Dodd - v 17
John Orem - m, v 19 Robbie Shepard - m, v 17 Ray Dell Hudgins - v 17
Carolyn Perry - m 19 Patti Steward - m, v 17 Ruthie Hudgins - v 17
Abbey Quinn - m 19 Sam Stephens - m, v 17 Valenda Jackson - v 17
Lee Rivenbark - m 19 Robert Stewart - m, v 17 Becky Morris - m 17
George Sanford II - m, w 19 Fred Westmoreland - v 17 Candace Morris - m, v 17
David Trotter - m 19 Mark Wheeler - m, v 17 Lilly Plummer - m, v 17
Kathy Vail - m, v 19 Leola Rutledge - m 17
Tom Whiteside - m, v 19 Midland, St. Nicholas' Phillip Zeeck - m 17
Bruce Whittlesey - m 19 Chris Buck - v 19
Betty Gilmore - m, w 19 Pampa, St. Matthew's
Lubbock, St. Stephen's Pamela Howell - m, v 19 Karon Bonnell - m, w 17
Karen Bosscher - m 19 Bridget Hyde - m, v 19 Karen Lang - m 17
Debbie Cox - m 19 Harris Kerr - m 19 John P. McGarr III - m, w, p, v 17
Larry Douglas - m 19 Katherin Lewis - m 19 Diana McGarr - m, p 17
Brickland Easton - m 19 Rick Lopez - p 19 Mary Niccum - m 17
Charlotte Harris - m 19 Cynthia Manley - m, v 19 Jennifer Plunk - m 17
Mark Hernandez - m 19 Kristin Maguire - m, v, w 19 Michael Plunk - m 17
Kent Keith - m, v 19 Russell Meyers - m, v 19 Bill Ragsdale - m, v 17
Michael Landress - v 19 Christine Newman - m 19 Jan Ragsdale - m, v, p 17
Mariel Morgan - m 19 Elizabeth Rubin - m 19 Nancy Whitten - v 17
Richard Norton - m 19 Kathy Shannon - m, v 19
Gary Pullen - m, v 19 Patrick Street - m, v, w 19 Perryton, All Saints'
Michael Pullen - m, v 19 Joanne Weber - m, w, v 19 Judy Gorman - m, v, w 19
Jan Rigsby - v 19 Margaret Hiett Williams - v 19 Charles Kessie - m, v, w, p 19
Kelly Trlica - m 19 Mary Williams - m 19 Janie Kessie - m, v, w 19
Vicki Vincenti - m 19 Jane Wolf - v 19 Jimmy Palmer - m, w 19
Dann Wigner - m 19 Betty Stone - m, v, w 19
LeAnn Wigner - m 19 Barbara Williams - m, v, w 19
Odessa, St. Barnabas'
Midland, Holy Trinity Hal Cooksey - m 17 Plainview, St. Mark's
Marilyn Allen - m, v 17 Meredith Maharg - m 17 Patricia Boedeker - m, v 17
Maggie Babb - m, v 17 Beverly Martin - m 17 Kevin Lewis - w 17
Mary Lou Cassidy - m, v 17 Rich McBurney m 17 James Mock, Jr. - m, w 17
George Gilles - m, v 17 Genevra Miller - m 17 Carrie Rollins - m 17
Carla Holeva - m, v 17 Polly Moore - m 17 Linda Thompson - m, w 17
Paula Howbert - m, v 17 Terrell Pierce - m 17
Bonnie Hubbard - m 17
Orman Hubbard - v 17
Page 11
DIOCESE OF NORTHWEST TEXAS
LICENSED LAY MINISTERS as of Convention 2016
San Angelo, Emmanuel San Angelo, Good Shepherd
Cindy Caldwell - m, v 17 Natalie Craddock - m, w 19
John Caldwell - m, v 17 Marissa Dannheim - m 19
Bill Carter - m 17 Chris Ellery - m, v, w 19
Heidi Curry Brooks - m 17 Hope Garza - m, v, w 19
Rebecca Duncan - m 17 Fran Gregg - m, v, w 19
Sheila Fisher - m 17 Don Griffis - m, w 19
John Hemphill - m,v 17 Kay Holland - m, w 19
Lori Hollingsworth - c 17 Paul Wooten - m 19
Samantha Howell - m 17
Barbara Jackson - m 17 Shamrock, St. Michael and
Bob Keeling - v 17 All Angels'
Elizabeth Kitch - m 17 Ken Baxter - l, w, m, v 17
William Kitch - m 17 Rosemary Baxter - m, v 17
Don LePak - m 17 Robin McGonigal - m, v 17
Ann Light - m, v 17 Sarah Tindall - w, m, v 17
Felix Lisewski - m 17 Dwight Tipps - w, m, v 17
Jim Lummus - m 17 Sylvia Zaiontz - m,v 17
Claire Makins - m 17
Daniel Makins - m, v 17 Sweetwater, St. Stephen's
Chase Monson - m 17 Ricky Bowman - m, w 17
Virginia Noelke - m 17 Warren Crawford - m, w 17
William Prater - m 17 Katy Hoskins - m, w 17
Ron Reiner - m 17 Wayne Jones - m, w 17
Joanne Rochelle - m 17 Jessica Messersmith - w 17
Kay Rork - m 17 Joan Smola - m, w 17
Shelby Rowe - m 17 Roderick Wetsel - m, w 17
Eldra Sanford - m 17 Mary Burrows - m, w 17
Jess Stanford - m, v 17
Anna Thomas - m 17 Vernon, Grace
Mary Tinsley - m 17 Dale Craighead - m, w 17
Wayne Ulrich - m 17 Jessie Craighead - m, v, w 17
Joshua White 17 Todd Greenwood - w 17
Gardner Wiseheart - m 17 Staley Heatly - m, w 17
Jeff Womack - v 17 Meg Heatly - m, w 17
Dina Neal - m, v, w 17
Note: All licenses expire on December 31 of the year shown.
CODE:
c: Catechist
l: Pastoral Leader
m: Eucharistic Minister
p: Preacher
v: Eucharistic Visitor
w: Worship Leader
Page 12
The Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas
Minutes of the 58th Annual Convention
Lubbock, Texas
“We who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread”
1 Corinthians 10:17
Thursday, November 17, 2016
A reception honoring the 100th anniversary of the Bacon House was held at the home on Thursday,
November 17 from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm. The home, dedicated as The Hulsey Episcopal Center in
1981, serves as the offices of the Diocese of Northwest Texas Bishop and staff.
Friday, November 18, 2016
The 58th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas, meeting
at the Mckenzie-Merket Alumni Center in Lubbock Texas, was convened by the Rt. Rev. J. Scott
Mayer at 8:35 A.M. The Rev. Celia Ellery led Morning Prayer.
Following announcements, Bishop Mayer introduced convention officers and members of the dais:
Mr. Tom Choate, Diocesan Chancellor; Mr. Carrol Holley, Diocesan Treasurer; the Rev. Canon
Mike Ehmer, Canon to the Ordinary and Chair of Dispatch of Business; Mr. Michael Pullen,
Secretary of the Diocese and Chair of the Credentials Committee; and Mr. Scott Bishop,
Parliamentarian. Bishop Mayer introduced diocesan staff members Ms. Elizabeth Thames,
Diocesan Administrator, Bishop’s Secretary and Chair of the Necrology Committee; Deacon
Nancy Igo, Director of Communications and Human Resources; Mrs. Anna Mora, Finance
Manager; Mrs. Renee Haney, Diocesan Youth Coordinator; and the Ven. Chris Wrampelmeier,
Archdeacon.
Bishop Mayer welcomed and thanked Convention Committee Chair Ms. Carolyn Hearn and the
persons on the Convention committee: Mrs. Julie Harris, St. Stephen’s, Lubbock, Mrs. Edie
Rische, St. Christopher’s, Lubbock, Mrs. Renee Haney, St. Paul’s, Lubbock, Mrs. Tiffany
Hernandez, Carolyn Hearn’s daughter, and Ms. Suzanne Mino-Sanchez of Top Tier Catering who
has been the point of contact at the Mckenzie-Merket Alumni Center. The Bishop went on to
thank his staff for their work to coordinate this first convention hosted by the diocese.
Bishop Mayer welcomed guests and visitors to the Convention: The Rev. Gay Clark Jennings,
President of the House of Deputies of the Episcopal Church, our guest speaker and guest preacher;
the Rev. Annwn Hawkins Myers, Associate Dean for Recruitment and Admissions, School of
Theology, Sewanee: The University of the South; and the Rev. Hope Benko, Director of
Enrollment Management and Admissions at the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin.
Page 13
The Bishop introduced and welcomed staff members from the Diocese of Fort Worth who were
guests at Convention: Mrs. Michele King, Administrative Assistant; and Mrs. Adriana Cline,
Treasurer’s Assistant.
Bishop Mayer introduced seminarians: Mrs. Claire Makins of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, San
Angelo who is currently a senior at the School of Theology, University of the South, Sewanee;
and two Seminarians who could not be with us: Ms. Becca Kello of Heavenly Rest, Abilene, a one
year Anglican Studies student at Virginia Theological Seminary and Mrs. Leann Wigner of St.
Stephen’s, Lubbock who is a junior at the School of Theology, University of the South, Sewanee.
Bishop Mayer also introduced School of Ordained Ministry students: Mrs. Karen Boyd of
Heavenly Rest, Abilene, Mr. Alvin Stofel of St. Christopher’s, Lubbock, Ms. Kathy Vail of St.
Paul’s, Lubbock, and Ms. Courtney Jones of St. Andrew’s, Amarillo (who was unable to attend).
Bishop Mayer introduced new clergy, clergy in new positions, and those retired in the diocese
since the 2015 Convention:
The Rev. Thomas Keith was ordained to the transitional diaconate on December 12, 2016 at
Heavenly Rest, Abilene, and is currently serving at Grace, Vernon, his sponsoring congregation.
The Rev. Dru Ferguson came out of retirement on January 1, 2016 to assume the part-time
position of Priest-in-Charge at St. Peter's, Amarillo.
The Rev. Dave Blakley was ordained to the vocational diaconate on January 23, 2016 at St.
Andrew's, Amarillo where he was sponsored and now serves.
The Rev. Mildred Rugger who was sponsored by St. George’s, Canyon was ordained to the
vocational diaconate on January 23, 2016 at St. Andrew's, Amarillo where she now serves.
In April, the Rev. Jennifer Holder reduced her time at Texas Tech Canterbury from three-quarter
(3/4) to one-half (1/2) time, and took on the additional position of half-time (1/2) Priest-in Charge
at St. Christopher's, Lubbock.
The Rev. Edson Way came out of retirement in June, 2016 to assume the part-time position of
Priest in-Charge at St. Mary the Virgin, Big Spring.
On June 1, 2016, the Rev. Robert Pace moved from Associate Rector to Rector at St. Andrew's,
Amarillo, following the retirement of the Rev. Jo Craig.
The Rev. Justin Gibson graduated from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in May
and was ordained to the transitional diaconate on June 4, 2016 at St. Paul's, Lubbock. He is now
serving as a part-time curate at St. James', Dalhart, his sponsoring parish, and holds the secular
position of Executive Director at Care Net Pregnancy Center of Dalhart.
The Rev. Christian Rabone graduated from Seminary of the Southwest in May. He was ordained
to the transitional diaconate at his sponsoring parish, St. Paul's, Lubbock on June 4, 2016 and now
serves as Curate at Emmanuel, San Angelo. Deacon Rabone was approved by the Standing
Page 14
Committee today for ordination to the priesthood. The service is tentatively scheduled for January
14, 2017.
The Rev. Jim Walker was ordained to the transitional diaconate on December 12, 2016 at Heavenly
Rest, Abilene and to the priesthood June 21, 2016 at St. Luke's, Levelland, where he was sponsored
and is currently serving as Vicar.
The Rev. Doug Thomas was ordained to the transitional diaconate on December 12, 2016 and the
priesthood on June 23, 2016 both at Heavenly Rest, Abilene, his sponsoring parish, and where he
is currently serving as an assisting priest.
The Rev. Amanda Watson was ordained to the priesthood on June 23, 2016 at Heavenly Rest,
Abilene where she was sponsored and is currently serving as an assisting priest.
The Rev. Jill Walters was ordained to the transitional diaconate on December 12, 2016 at Heavenly
Rest, Abilene and the priesthood on June 25 at St. Andrew’s, Amarillo, where she was sponsored
and is currently serving as Associate Rector and Chaplain at St. Andrew's School.
The Rev. Susanna Cates departed Heavenly Rest, Abilene in late May to become the Assistant
Rector of St. Peter's, Morristown, New Jersey.
The Rev. Les Jackson departed St. John's, Odessa in late May to become the Rector of St.
Matthew's, Newton, Kansas.
On May 31, 2016, the Rev. Jo Craig retired from St. Andrew's, Amarillo, were she served as rector.
The Rev. Bob Taliaferro assumed the position of Rector, St. Paul's, Sikeston, Missouri in October,
2016.
The Rev. Eric Mancil will be leaving Heavenly Rest, Abilene in December of this year as he has
accepted a call to become the Rector, St. Catherine’s, Chelsea, Alabama.
Bishop Mayer called on Mr. Michael Pullen, Secretary of Convention and Chair of the Credentials
Committee, who reported that a quorum was present with 101 delegates, 41 clergy, and 11 ex-
officio members registered for a total of 153 voting members. (See Attachment A: Final Report
of the Credentials Committee.)
Bishop Mayer called the 58th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Northwest Texas to order.
Bishop Mayer introduced The Rev. Robert Pace, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo, President of the Standing
Committee, who moved the following resolutions on behalf of the Standing Committee:
Page 15
Standing Committee Resolution on
Exemption of Diocesan Apportionment Requirement
Whereas, the parish of Good Shepherd, San Angelo continues to undergo significant financial
hardships while battling for custody of their property and assets in the Texas legal system, and
Whereas, Good Shepherd continues to increase their apportionment payments each year with the
expectation of paying their full apportionment amount by 2018, therefore,
Resolved, that for the calendar year 2015 the parish of Good Shepherd, San Angelo be relieved of
the unpaid balance of their required diocesan apportionment and, thus, in accordance with
Diocesan Canon 2, Section 7, be entitled to vote at the 58th Convention of the Episcopal Church
in the Diocese of Northwest Texas.
The resolution passed unanimously.
Standing Committee Resolution on
Exemption of Audit Submission Requirement
Whereas, the mission of San Miguel Arcangel, Odessa has not yet completed the financial audit requirements
of the Episcopal Church for the year 2015, and thus, in accordance with Diocesan Canon 2, Section 7, their
delegation is not entitled to vote at the 2016 Annual Diocesan Convention, and
Whereas, the Vicar and Bishop’s Committee of San Miguel Arcangel have petitioned the Standing
Committee seeking exemption from the aforementioned canonical requirement to allow their delegation to
vote at this convention, and
Whereas, the Standing Committee is convinced the leadership of San Miguel Arcangel will, in fact, see that
their audit is completed without delay and submit a copy to the office of the Bishop as quickly as possible,
therefore
Resolved, that San Miguel Arcangel, Odessa be granted an exemption to Diocesan Canon 2, Section 7, and
be entitled to vote at the 58th Convention of the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas.
The resolution passed unanimously.
Bishop Mayer led the Commissioning of Lay Delegates, Officers, and Members of the Dais.
Mrs. Mary Tinsley, Emmanuel, San Angelo, moved that voice be given to guests of the
Convention. The motion was seconded and passed.
The Rev. Canon Mike Ehmer, on behalf of the Dispatch of Business Committee, moved adoption
of the Order of Business as printed. The motion passed.
He then made several announcements pertinent to the convention.
Page 16
Bishop Mayer introduced Mrs. Kathy Mayer who invited all clergy spouses present to join her in
the lobby at 11:30 to proceed to the Spouse lunch at the Texas Tech Club.
Bishop Mayer introduced Ms. Jackie Batjer of Heavenly Rest, Abilene, and Chair of the Approval
of the 2015 Convention Minutes Committee. Ms. Batjer moved that the minutes of the 57th
Diocesan Convention be accepted as printed. The motion passed.
Bishop Mayer presented his appointments for 2017. (See Attachment B: Bishop Mayer’s
Appointments).
Bishop Mayer asked for a motion to approve Mr. Tom Choate, of Heavenly Rest, as Chancellor of
the Diocese until 2019. It was so moved, seconded and approved unanimously.
Bishop Mayer asked for a motion to approve Ms. Elizabeth Thames, Diocesan Administrator, as
Registrar of the Diocese until 2019. It was so moved, seconded and approved unanimously.
Bishop Mayer asked for a motion to approve The Rev. Canon Mike Ehmer, Canon to the Ordinary
and The Rev. Jean Scott, Non-Parochial, as members of the Commission on Ministry until 2020.
It was so moved, seconded and approved unanimously.
Bishop Mayer asked for a motion to approve Ms. Debbie Cox of St. Stephen’s, Lubbock, The Rev.
David Perdue of St. Stephen’s, Lubbock, and The Rev. Jill Walters of St. Andrew’s, Amarillo as
members of the Disciplinary Committee until 2019. It was so moved, seconded and approved
unanimously.
Bishop Mayer called on the Rev. Claire Cowden, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo, Chair of the Nominating
Committee, who moved the following nominations on behalf of the committee:
Secretary of the Diocese to after Convention 2019, one to be elected:
Mr. Michael Pullen, St. Stephen’s, Lubbock
Treasurer of the Diocese to after Convention 2019, one to be elected:
Mr. Carrol Holley, St. Stephen’s, Lubbock
Standing Committee to after Convention 2019, one Lay to be elected:
Ms. Debbie Copeland, St. Stephen’s, Lubbock
Mrs. Mary Emeny, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo
Mr. Robert Nebb, St. Paul’s, Lubbock
Standing Committee to after Convention 2019, one Clergy to be elected:
The Rev. David Perdue, St. Stephen’s, Lubbock
Northwest Texas Board of Trustees to after Convention 2021, one Lay to be elected:
Mr. Ricky Bowman, St. Stephen’s, Sweetwater
Mr. John Caldwell, Emmanuel, San Angelo
Page 17
Executive Council to after Convention 2019, one Lay to be elected:
Mr. Bill Heck, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo
Executive Council to after Convention 2019, one Clergy to be elected:
The Rev. Jared Houze, All Saints’, Colorado City and St. Stephen’s, Sweetwater
The Rev. Jim Walker, St. Luke’s, Levelland
Deputies to 2018 General Convention and Provincial Synod, four Lay to be elected:
Mrs. Karon Bonnell, St. Matthew’s, Pampa
Mr. Cliff Craig, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo
Mr. Frank Deaderick, St. John’s, Odessa
Mr. James “Jimmy” Haney VI, St. Paul’s, Lubbock
Mr. Nolan Kelley, Heavenly Rest, Abilene
Mr. Kirk McLaughlin, St. Paul’s, Lubbock
Mrs. Nancy McReynolds, St. Christopher’s, Lubbock
Mr. Fred Newman, Holy Trinity, Midland
Mrs. Mary Tinsley, Emmanuel, San Angelo
Mrs. Mary Williams, St. Nicholas, Midland
Deputies to 2018 General Convention and Provincial Synod, four Clergy to be elected:
The Rev. Luke Back, Heavenly Rest, Abilene
The Rev. Canon Mike Ehmer, Canon to the Ordinary
The Rev. Jennifer Holder, St. Christopher’s and Canterbury, Lubbock
The Rev. Barbara Kirk-Norris, Holy Trinity, Midland
The Rev. Mark Lang, St. Matthew’s, Pampa
The Rev. Jim Liggett, Retired, Midland
The Rev. Rich Nelson, Non-parochial, Burton
The Rev. Robert Pace, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo
The Rev. David Perdue, St. Stephen’s, Lubbock
University of the South Board of Trustees, two lay to be elected:
Mr. Ken Baxter, St. Michael & All Angels, Shamrock
Mr. John Hill, Heavenly Rest, Abilene
Mrs. Terry Jolliffe, Holy Trinity, Midland
University of the South Board of Trustees, one clergy to be elected:
The Rev. Barbara Kirk-Norris, Holy Trinity, Midland
The Rev. Pat Russell, Retired, Lubbock
Bishop Mayer called for nominations from the floor for each of the positions and noted that floor
nominations must be presented in writing with the nomination properly completed on forms
available from Ms. Elizabeth Thames. There being no further nominations, Bishop Mayer
declared the nominations closed. In accordance with the Diocesan Constitution, Bishop Mayer
instructed Mr. Michael Pullen, Diocesan Secretary, to cast the ballot on behalf of the Convention
for the unopposed positions of:
Page 18
Secretary of the Diocese, Mr. Michael Pullen, St. Stephen’s, Lubbock
Treasurer of the Diocese, Mr. Carrol Holley, St. Stephen’s, Lubbock
Standing Committee – Clergy, The Rev. David Perdue, St. Stephen’s, Lubbock
Executive Council – Lay, Mr. Bill Heck, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo
Bishop Mayer called on Ms. Debbie Cox, St. Stephen’s, Lubbock and Chair of the Elections
Committee, to direct the first vote. Once all ballots were distributed, marked, and collected, the
Bishop declared the polls closed.
Bishop Mayer recognized Ms. Joann Rachele of Emmanuel, San Angelo, who had come to a floor
microphone. Ms. Rachele offered an announcement regarding the ECW retreat in June 2017.
Bishop Mayer then reminded the Convention that announcements should be presented to the Chair
of Dispatch of Business, not presented personally.
Following a break, Bishop Mayer presented his address to the 58th Diocesan Convention. (See
Attachment C: Bishop Mayer’s Address to Convention.)
After a second break, Bishop Mayer announced the following election results:
Executive Council to 2019 Clergy (elect 1)
The Rev. Jared Houze 100
The Rev. Jim Walker 49
Total Ballots 149
Needed 76 The Rev. Jared Houze was elected.
Standing Committee to 2019 Lay (elect 1)
Ms. Debbie Copeland 51
Mrs. Mary Emeny 61
Mr. Robert Nebb 35
Total Ballots 147
Needed 75 There was no election.
NW Texas Board of Trustees to 2021 Lay (elect 1)
Mr. Ricky Bowman 79
Mr. John Caldwell 71
Total Ballots 150
Needed 76 Mr. Ricky Bowman was elected.
Page 19
University of the South Board of Trustees to 2019 Clergy (elect 1)
The Rev. Barbara Kirk-Norris 76
The Rev. Pat Russell 76
Total Ballots 152
Needed Plurality There was no election.
University of the South Board of Trustees to 2019 Lay (elect 2)
Mr. Ken Baxter 112
Mr. John Hill 99
Mrs. Terry Jolliffe 72
Total Ballots 151
Needed Plurality Mr. Ken Baxter and Mr. John Hill were elected.
Deputies to General Convention Clergy (elect 4)
The Rev. Luke Back 79
The Rev. Canon Mike Ehmer 118
The Rev. Jennifer Holder 66
The Rev. Barbara Kirk-Norris 60
The Rev. Mark Lang 40
The Rev. Jim Liggett 58
The Rev. Rich Nelson 22
The Rev. Robert Pace 89
The Rev. David Perdue 56
Total Ballots 152
Needed 78 Rev. Canon Mike Ehmer was elected as C1, The Rev. Robert Pace was elected as C2, and The Rev.
Luke Back was elected as C3. There was no election for C4.
Deputies to General Convention Lay (elect 4)
Mrs. Karon Bonnell 41
Mr. Cliff Craig 76
Mr. Frank Deaderick 67
Mr. Jimmy Haney VI 75
Mr. Nolan Kelley 57
Mr. Kirk McLaughlin 49
Mrs. Nancy McReynolds 59
Page 20
Mr. Fred Newman 31
Mrs. Mary Tinsley 70
Mrs. Mary Williams 59
Total Ballots 152
Needed 78 There was no election.
Bishop Mayer called on Ms. Debbie Cox to direct a second ballot. Once all ballots were
distributed, marked, and collected, the Bishop declared the polls closed.
Bishop Mayer introduced Mrs. Renee Haney, Diocesan Youth Coordinator, to give a report on the
diocesan youth program.
Bishop Mayer introduced The Rev. Hope Benko to present a report from the Seminary of the
Southwest.
Bishop Mayer introduced the Rev. Jennifer Holder to give a report from the Texas Tech Canterbury
program.
Bishop Mayer introduced The Rev. Annwn Hawkins Myers to offer a report from the University
of the South.
Following announcements by Canon Mike Ehmer and Noonday Prayers led by The Rev. Alberto
Moreno of San Miguel Arcangel, Odessa, the convention recessed for lunch.
Convention reconvened at 1:11 pm. Bishop Mayer announced the following election results:
Standing Committee to 2019 Lay (elect 1)
Ms. Debbie Copeland 24
Mrs. Mary Emeny 83
Mr. Robert Nebb 21
Total Ballots 128
Needed 65 Mrs. Mary Emeny was elected.
University of the South Board of Trustees to 2019 Clergy (elect 1)
The Rev. Barbara Kirk-Norris 86
The Rev. Pat Russell 58
Total Ballots 144
Needed Plurality The Rev. Barbara Kirk-Norris was elected.
Page 21
Deputies to General Convention Clergy (elect 1)
The Rev. Jennifer Holder 61
The Rev. Barbara Kirk-Norris 26
The Rev. Mark Lang 6
The Rev. Jim Liggett 27
The Rev. Rich Nelson 6
The Rev. David Perdue 21
Total Ballots 147
Needed 74 There was no election.
Deputies to General Convention Lay (elect 4)
Mrs. Karon Bonnell 27
Mr. Cliff Craig 110
Mr. Frank Deaderick 79
Mr. Jimmy Haney VI 94
Mr. Nolan Kelley 29
Mr. Kirk McLaughlin 32
Mrs. Nancy McReynolds 60
Mr. Fred Newman 18
Mrs. Mary Tinsley 91
Mrs. Mary Williams 52
Total Ballots 148
Needed 75 Mr. Cliff Craig was elected as L1, Mr. Jimmy Haney VI was elected as L2, Mrs. Mary Tinsley was
elected as L3, and Mr. Frank Deaderick was elected as L4.
Bishop Mayer called upon the Rev. Jim Walker, St. Luke’s, Levelland, for a motion on election
matters. Jim moved that, according to the Diocesan Constitution Article VI, Section 4B, the
remaining ballots elect positions by plurality rather than majority. The motion was seconded and
passed unanimously.
The Bishop called upon Ms. Debbie Cox, St. Stephen’s, Lubbock and Chair of the Elections
Committee, to give directions regarding the third vote and oversee the balloting procedures. The
polls were closed once all ballots were distributed, marked, and collected.
Bishop Mayer introduced The Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, President of the House of Deputies, who
gave a presentation on embracing a changing Episcopal world.
Bishop Mayer announced the results of the third ballot:
Page 22
Deputies to General Convention Clergy (elect 1)
The Rev. Jennifer Holder 92
The Rev. Barbara Kirk-Norris 28
The Rev. Mark Lang 3
The Rev. Jim Liggett 14
The Rev. Rich Nelson 2
The Rev. David Perdue 14
Total Ballots 153
Needed Plurality The Rev. Jennifer Holder was elected as C4.
The Bishop called upon Ms. Debbie Cox, St. Stephen’s, Lubbock and Chair of the Elections
Committee, to give directions regarding the fourth vote to rank clergy and lay alternates to General
Convention. The polls were closed once all ballots were distributed, marked, and collected.
Following a break, the Bishop announced the election results:
Deputies to General Convention Clergy (rank alternates by choosing 1)
The Rev. Barbara Kirk-Norris 52 1st alternate
The Rev. Mark Lang 19 4th alternate
The Rev. Jim Liggett 37 3rd alternate
The Rev. Rich Nelson 2 5th alternate
The Rev. David Perdue 42 2nd alternate
Total Ballots 153
Needed Plurality
Deputies to General Convention Lay (rank alternates by choosing 1)
Mrs. Karon Bonnell 5 5th alternate
Mr. Nolan Kelley 31 3rd alternate
Mr. Kirk McLaughlin 24 4th alternate
Mrs. Nancy McReynolds 42 1st alternate
Mr. Fred Newman 2 6th alternate
Mrs. Mary Williams 40 2nd alternate
Total Ballots 152
Needed Plurality
The Rev. Canon Mike Ehmer gave the Treasurer’s Report on behalf of Treasurer Carrol Holley.
He noted that copies of the 2015 Audit Report and 2016 year-to-date Budget and Actual Reports
were available on the distribution table. He then led the Convention through the proposed 2017
Budget. Bishop Mayer asked for discussion and there was none.
On behalf of the Executive Council, Canon Mike Ehmer moved adoption of the proposed 2017
Apportionments as presented. The motion passed.
Page 23
On behalf of the Executive Council, Canon Ehmer moved adoption of the proposed 2017 Budget
as presented. The motion passed. (See Attachment F: 2017 Budget and Apportionments.)
The Rev. Canon Mike Ehmer, presented a report on behalf of the Constitution and Canons
Committee. The Committee moved the first vote of an adoption to Article VII of the Constitution
as presented:
Section 2. Secretary. At the annual meeting of the Convention a Secretary shall be elected
confirmed by a majority vote of the Convention upon nomination by the Bishop for a term of
three years, commencing at the adjournment of the annual meeting of the Convention at which
such election nomination and confirmation occurs and continuing in office until the adjournment
of the annual meeting at which the successor is elected nominated and confirmed. The Secretary
shall serve ex-officio as Secretary of the Executive Council and as Secretary of the Convention,
and shall be an ex-officio member of both the Executive Council and the Convention, except as
otherwise provided.
Section 3. Treasurer. At the annual meeting of the Convention a Treasurer shall be elected
confirmed by a majority vote of the Convention upon nomination by the Bishop for a term of
three years, commencing at the adjournment of the annual meeting of the Convention at which
such election nomination and confirmation occurs and continuing in office until the adjournment
of the annual meeting at which the successor is electednominated and confirmed. The Treasurer
shall serve ex-officio as the Treasurer of the Executive Council and as Treasurer of the
Convention, and shall be an ex-officio member of the Executive Council and the Convention,
except as otherwise provided.
Section 7. Vacancies. A vacancy in the office of Secretary or Treasurer shall be filled by
appointment of the Executive Council. A vacancy in the office of Chancellor or Registrar shall
be filled by appointment of the Bishop. A vacancy in the office of Secretary, Treasurer,
Chancellor or Registrar shall be filled by appointment of the Bishop with approval of the
Executive Council. A vacancy in the office of Trustee shall be filled by the remaining Trustees
until the next Convention.
The motion was approved unanimously and will come before the 2017 Convention for a second
vote.
The Rev. Jim Walker, St. Luke’s, Levelland, moved to accept all printed reports as filed by title.
The motion was seconded and passed.
Bishop Mayer announced that the offering at the Convention Eucharist will be given to Episcopal
Relief and Development and Canon Ehmer made several Convention announcements. The Rev.
Jared Houze, St. Stephen’s, Sweetwater and All Saints’, Colorado City, led the Convention in
evening worship.
At 3:35 pm Bishop Mayer declared the Convention adjourned until 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning.
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The Convention dinner dance was held at the Mckenzie-Merket Alumni Center beginning with a
social hour at 6:00 pm.
Saturday, November 19, 2016
The Convention Eucharist began at 9:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church with Bishop Mayer
as celebrant. The Rev. Gay Clark Jennings was the preacher (Attachment D: Convention Eucharist
Sermon). The United Thank Offering Ingathering was collected and the necrology list of the
Convention was read at the Prayers of the People (Attachment E: Necrology Report). Participating
clergy included The Reverend Canon Mike Ehmer, The Rev. James P. Haney V, Archdeacon Chris
Wrampelmeier, Deacon Becky Tilton Orem and Deacon Melissa Wafer-Cross.
Following Communion, Bishop Mayer reconvened the Convention after confirming a quorum was
present.
Bishop Mayer introduced the Rev. Mary Glover, Rector of St. Mark’s, Abilene, and Chair of the
Resolutions Committee, and committee member Archdeacon Chris Wrampelmeier who presented
the following courtesy resolutions:
Courtesy Resolution One: A Resolution Thanking Jackie Batjer, General Convention Stalwart
WHEREAS Jackie Batjer of the Church of the Heavenly Rest, Abilene, has represented this
diocese as one of its four lay deputies at ten General Conventions of the Episcopal Church; and
WHEREAS the General Convention is the governing and legislative body of the Episcopal
Church, meeting every three years in a flurry of activity and meetings packed into nine days; and
WHEREAS in the thirty years in which she served, Jackie earned a reputation for dedication and
hard work, being the first one up and the last to go to bed, laboring cheerfully for the church she
loves and showing a particular passion for social justice; and
WHEREAS anonymous sources state that even after the hardest and longest of days at General
Convention, Jackie would still find time to develop community at a local pub, with one source
(whose quote I make up) stating, “Jackie had a passion for the social, staying out until it was just
us”; and
WHEREAS the location of General Convention in 2018 being in Austin, Texas, a place far too
convenient for Jackie, Jackie decided not to run as a deputy; and
WHEREAS her absence from the ballot in this diocesan convention created a small crisis, forcing
four rounds of voting with many “X’s” and circles—in pencil to encourage indecisiveness, as we
tried to discern who could possibly fill Jackie’s shoes; therefore
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THIS 58th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Northwest Texas that we
give Jackie Batjer thanks with our whole hearts for all time, toil, and talent she has given as our
deputy these many years.
Adopted, in Session, November 19, 2016.
Courtesy Resolution Two: A Resolution to Rally a Cry of Thanks
for Carolyn Hearn and the Convention Planning Committee
WHEREAS, just a year ago we resolved to say “farewell, not goodbye” to Carolyn Hearn as we
knew that she would soon begin planning and coordinating this 58th Annual Convention of our
Diocese; and
WHEREAS Carolyn has indeed taken a break from the garden, the books, the pets, and tending
her “pot plants” (do you remember she said that?) to once again corral us Episcopal kids and steer
us through our several days together; and
WHEREAS Carolyn has pulled together a dedicated posse (who knew this wouldn’t “just be all
kum ba yah and stuff”) to manage the herd, to rustle up a mess of vittles, and to circle up the tables
for an evening of rubbing shoulders, wetting our whistles, scooting a boot, and strengthening
friendships, old and new; and
WHEREAS the folks at the Texas Tech Alumni Center have shown us that kind of inclusion
(“you’re all welcome, even non-members!”) we all strive for in our own communities; and
WHEREAS we know that our “connectedness to one another” is not based on common beliefs –
or even common school mascots – but on our common concern for one another and enthusiasm to
gather together in thanksgiving;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT we, the people of this 58th Convention of the Episcopal
Diocese of Northwest Texas, join as one to honor Carolyn Hearn and the 2016 Convention
Planning Committee – her daughter Tiffany Hernandez; Julie Harris of St. Stephen’s, Lubbock;
Edie Rische of St. Christopher’s, Lubbock; Rene Haney of St. Paul’s, Lubbock; Suzanne Mino-
Sanchez of the McKenzie-Merket Center, and the Texas Tech Alumni – with a unified chorus of
“Thank You” and, just for the heck of it, a heartfelt Rally Cry (in keeping, of course, with the
tradition in which you were raised) of: Gig ‘em, Ags; Hoot, hoot, Owls; Boomer Sooners; Pony
Ms. Elizabeth Thames, Diocesan Administrator (ex-officio)
The Rev. Canon Mike Ehmer, Canon to the Ordinary (ex-officio)
MISSIONS COMMITTEE, 2017
The Rev. Jim Walker, St. Luke’s, Levelland, Convener
Mrs. Carole Horne, St. Mark’s Coleman
The Rev. Jared Houze, St. Stephen’s, Sweetwater & All Saint’s, Colorado City
Mrs. Jane Ferris, St. George’s, Canyon
Mr. Todd Greenwood, Grace, Vernon
Mrs. Frances Robins, St. Paul’s, Dumas
ECUMENICAL OFFICER
The Rev. Edson Way, St. Mary’s, Big Spring
COMMISSION ON MINISTRY (CONFIRMED BY CONVENTION)
The Rev. Canon Mike Ehmer, Canon to the Ordinary, Chair (20)
Ms. Elizabeth Thames, Diocesan Administrator, Secretary
The Rev. Jim Liggett, Retired (17)
Mrs. Cindy Phelps Streit, St. Stephen’s, Lubbock (17)
Deacon Nikki Jones, St. Stephen’s, Sweetwater (17)
Archdeacon Chris Wrampelmeier, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo (18)
The Rev. Luke Back, Heavenly Rest, Abilene (18)
Mrs. Jane Wolf, St. Nicholas’, Midland (18)
Mrs. Mary Tinsley, Emmanuel, San Angelo (19)
The Rev. Barbara Kirk-Norris, Holy Trinity, Midland (19)
Deacon Becky Orem, St. Paul’s, Lubbock (19)
The Rev. Jean Scott, Non-Parochial, Lubbock (20)
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DISCIPLINARY BOARD (CONFIRMED BY CONVENTION)
Mrs. Sally Emerson, Church Attorney
Ms. Mary Lou Cassidy, Intake Officer
Mrs. Joan Whitt, St. Nicholas’, Midland (17)
The Rev. David Huxley, St. Nicholas’, Midland (17)
The Rev. Celia Ellery, Good Shepherd, San Angelo (18)
Mr. Don Griffis, Good Shepherd, San Angelo (18)
The Rev. David Perdue, St. Stephen’s, Lubbock (19)
The Rev. Jill Walters, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo (19)
Ms. Debbie Cox, St. Stephen’s, Lubbock (19)
CHANCELLOR OF THE DIOCESE (CONFIRMED BY CONVENTION)
Mr. Tom Choate, Heavenly Rest, Abilene (19)
REGISTRAR OF THE DIOCESE (CONFIRMED BY CONVENTION)
Ms. Elizabeth Thames, Diocesan Administrator (19)
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Attachment C
Bishop Mayer’s Address to Convention
November 17, 2016
I want to begin this morning by expressing gratitude to those who have planned and worked to put
together this diocesan convention. Please welcome back the Convention Planning Chair – my
former executive secretary and one who has served this diocese faithfully for 38 years: our friend
Carolyn Hearn. I want to thank and recognize the rest of her team: Julie Harris, Tiffany Hernandez,
Edie Rische, and Suzanne Mino-Sanchez, who is our contact at this Mckenzie-Merket Alumni
Center. Let’s express our appreciation.
Every diocesan convention is a time of transition. I would like to thank and recognize those who
have completed terms of service on a variety of committees and boards: Disciplinary Board – Jim
Haney V; University of the South Trustees – Robert Pace, Don Griffis, and John Hall; Episcopal
Church Women’s President – Jo Ann Rachele; Board of Trustees – Ricky Bowman; Executive
Council – Jean Scott and Vice President Dick Ford; General Convention Deputies – Celia Ellery,
Jo Craig, and Jackie Batjer who served as a deputy for 10 General Conventions!
And finally, two Standing Committee members who served faithfully on this committee which
serves as my council of advice; they were very involved in the process and decision to partner with
the Diocese of Fort Worth, and they exercised leadership up to and through my sabbatical: thanks
to Kirk McLaughlin who also served as the liaison to the Board of Trustees, and thank you to the
outgoing president, Robert Pace. Would everyone that I’ve recognized please stand? Let’s show
our gratitude.
Now I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my office staff for their work with Carolyn's
team to put on this convention, for their work throughout the year, and for their work during my
sabbatical. Everyone on the staff works especially hard for diocesan convention every year, but I
do want to recognize Nancy Igo, who as House Steward prepared the Bishop Hulsey Center for
this 100-year celebration, as well as the reception last night. I am blessed with a great office staff.
Let's show our appreciation to Canon Mike Ehmer, Elizabeth Thames, Anna Mora, and Nancy Igo
for their dedication and service to this diocese.
I want to thank, also, Renee Haney for her work with our youth; thank you, Renee and Jim, for
another wonderful camp experience. We will hear from Renee later today. Jennifer Holder
continues her work with the outstanding campus ministry we have at Texas Tech. We will hear
from Jennifer, also.
Earlier, you heard me introduce four students who attend our local School of Ordained Ministry.
And you heard me introduce a number of clergy in transition. Seven of those clergy are recent
graduates of the School of Ordained Ministry - in fact, they are the first graduating class: Thomas
Keith, Dave Blakely, Mildred Rugger, Jim Walker, Doug Thomas, Amanda Watson, and Jill
Walters. This is an outstanding program, a part of the Iona Project in the Diocese of Texas. I
believe it has - and will have - a significant impact on the life of our diocese. I know we have
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congregations that can testify to that already. Let's express our gratitude to the Dean Melissa
Wafer-Cross, and our mentors Jim Haney, Dave Huxley, and Robert Pace.
Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to the Standing Committee, to all of you, and to all
who made possible my sabbatical. Many of you gave sacrificially in different ways toward this
sabbatical, and I am grateful.
Sabbatical is a time of rest, primarily, and I did rest - much of the time on our back porch with a
book. There were days when I did nothing and accomplished absolutely nothing, and eventually I
didn't even feel guilty about that.
If there was a unifying theme or goal for this sabbatical, it was spending time with my family-
often involving travel. In July, Kathy and I went to Chicago for a few days and did a "Ferris
Bueler's Day Off” - including two Chicago Cubs games at Wrigley Field, the Art Institute, and an
architectural tour on the Chicago River. And we traveled with some close friends from the Church
of the Heavenly Rest to Philadelphia, where we saw historical sites ranging from Independence
Hall to Christ Church, where the Episcopal Church held the first meeting of General Convention.
We enjoyed, also, the hospitality of David and Sarabeth Romanik and their daughter, Cecilia, who
is a Texan, and can say, "Hi y'all."
In August, my mother and I traveled to the Sacramento area of California to spend time with her
brother and his extended family (my cousins). They enjoy parading me around so friends can hear
me talk; sometimes they needed translation. In late September Kathy and I went to Spain and
Portugal with Kathy's two sisters and brother-in-law; we were privileged to see Gaudi's Sagrada
Familia and Picasso's museum in Barcelona, the Alhambra in Granada, as well as take various
wine and tapas tours. And in late October, we went to Charleston, South Carolina, with my brother,
Cliff, and his wife, Shelly, and managed to try a different recipe for "shrimp and grits" nearly every
day.
Perhaps the highlight of the sabbatical was sitting on a dock at a small lake south of Abilene (Lake
Coleman), baiting hooks for our grandsons, James and Max. That's when I started losing track of
the days - not simply the date, but days. I consider this sabbatical to be a gift; not so much
something deserved, as something needed.
I want to say a few words about sabbaticals in general. I don't make these remarks to justify my
own sabbatical, but rather to encourage congregations to support clergy in taking sabbaticals. I
know that such provisions exist in your letters of agreements or covenants, already.
Truly, we clergy are privileged to do something with our lives that we are called to do. Not
everyone is so fortunate. And we are privileged to be invited into your lives on your most joyous
occasions, as well as in your most vulnerable, and poignant, and painful moments. It is a fulfilling
and rewarding life if one is called to it - like any vocation or true calling.
A priest remarked to me recently that polls show that clergy are the most fulfilled of all people by
their vocation, but they are the second-most stressed of all people - behind air-traffic-controllers.
I'm not asking for sympathy (my father used to say where one can find sympathy in the dictionary).
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But, priests and pastors don't "turn off' some internal pastoral-care-switch one day a week on their
Sabbath. They love you, and care for you, and pray for you "24/7." Most clergy wouldn't trade
that privilege for anything. I'm not asking for sympathy. But I am seeking sabbaticals for our
priests who have served and led a congregation for six or seven years. Besides, it is a good thing
for clergy to know that the world will turn without them. And it's good for you to know it, too.
So, I'm glad to be back in the saddle, so to speak, and I'm glad to be here today with you - the
people called to exercise leadership in this diocese and beyond. There is a good spirit in this
diocese; just look at the number of people who have offered themselves as nominees to various
leadership positions. That's a sign of your desire to serve this Church we love. You believe this
Church makes a difference in the world, and you know it makes a difference to you.
You have bought into Presiding Bishop Curry's vision of evangelism and racial reconciliation, and
you have been inspired by his proclamation that the most important word in the Great Commission
to "go and make disciples of all nations" is the word "go." And we are trying to figure out what
that means in our respective contexts.
We know the Church is in the midst of a re-formation or emergence - even a shaking of the
foundations - and in the midst of change we remain a body called to be who we are: connected
communities of faith, more united by common prayer than common doctrine or beliefs - perhaps
the Anglican gift to the world.
The theme for this year's diocesan convention is taken from Paul's first letter to the Corinthians:
"We who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread." This is an especially
appropriate theme, given our guest speaker and preacher, who by her presence alone reminds us
that we are connected to something larger than our congregations or dioceses.
The Rev Gay Clark Jennings serves as the President of the House of Deputies. Gay may say more
about the House of Deputies this afternoon, but the House of Deputies is one of two Houses of
General Convention - the other being the House of Bishops. By the way, the House of Deputies
(known as the "senior house") is the oldest of the two Houses by four years. The first meeting of
convention, which was held in 1785, consisted of only the House of Deputies (clergy and laity);
the House of Bishops (the "junior house") was established in 1789. So, Gay is one of the two
presiding officers of the Episcopal Church, along with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. (This is
a big deal that she is here.)
I want to say a few words about Gay personally. Gay and her husband, Albert (also a priest, and
one who has served the same congregation for 28 years), live outside Cleveland, Ohio. She has
been ordained for 37 years. For 17 years, she served as the Canon to the Ordinary in the Diocese
of Ohio, and then she spent 9 years as the Associate Director of CREDO Institute, a church
wellness program. That's where she and Mike Ehmer became close friends.
Gay and two other people came up with the concept for the CREDO Institute; Gay was the one
with the gift and skill set to know what clergy want and need, so naturally she oversaw the faculty
and curriculum. Mike says of Gay, "she knows people and their abilities, she knows who needs to
be on which bus, and in which seat. Without Gay, hundreds - if not thousands - of clergy would
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not have experienced the benefits of CREDO." It's not an overstatement to say that some clergy
would testify that CREDO changed their life.
I would add to that my experience as a bishop, particularly as Bishop of Fort Worth. Gay knows
every nook and cranny of this Church, and in whatever challenge a diocese or congregation may
face, she knows how to connect that diocese to resources, ranging from expertise to support. Please
welcome Gay Clark Jennings.
"We who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread." Throughout Paul's letters
we see references to the Church as one body in Christ- specifically in his letter to the Romans and
in his first letter to the Corinthians, as well as in Ephesians, which is in the Pauline tradition. All
of these passages convey our connectedness as living members of the Body, and how all the
members of the Body are valued and needed.
The fourth chapter of Ephesians gives a particularly vivid image of our connectedness, as the whole
body is referenced as "joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as
each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love." I single
out this passage to point out that the word "ligament" is the root word to another word: "religion."
I know that word is seen by the culture with the same suspicion as other words like "evangelical,"
and a growing population identifies with a category called "spiritual but not religious." The
sociologist and author, Diana Butler-Bass, has written extensively on this cultural view of religion,
and how the word "religion” has become a negative term connected to other words like institution,
organization, rules, order, dogma, authority, and hierarchy.
But she goes on to remind us of the roots to the word "religion." The word "religion" breaks down
to mean "re-connect" or "re-bind." It comes from a Latin word which implies the "reconnection of
ligaments" - "re-ligament." And if we think about it, that is God's mission: to restore, to re-unite,
to re-member that which is dis-membered, to restore us to union with God and one another.
As much as I personally might believe the word "religion" is a perfectly good word, and a word
that actually expresses God's mission, I realize I might be fighting a losing battle about the word.
The culture associates the word with an institution. And as our Presiding Bishop says, "In the
beginning the Church was a movement, not an institution. Institutions are fine and necessary, but
institutions serve the movement. When an institution is more than the movement, it becomes a
golden calf." People are rejecting the golden calf.
So, while I may need to take "religion" out of my vocabulary when speaking to the culture, I'm not
giving up on the reality which it expresses. We are part of a movement to restore all people to
union with God and one another by the power of God’s love.
And there is no doing one without doing the other. There is no path to union with God while
alienated from others. At a meeting with the House of Bishops last Spring, Bishop Curry reminded
us of a sixth century mystic who gave us the image of a great wheel with spokes and a center. We
may be on the rim of the wheel or somewhere on the spokes, but as we move down the spokes -
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the closer we get to the center of the wheel, the closer we get to God, the closer we get to one
another.
So, we are called to participate in God's mission of reconciliation in a world that is obviously
fractured. The election season which we all just experienced, followed by the post-election
demonstrations and protests, make it clear that as a nation we are divided - and not merely divided
in regards to political philosophies as to how to run a country, but divided by deeper, darker forces.
Long before the actual election and in regards to the campaign and the anger, columnists and
political pundits were asking and trying to answer, "What happened this time?" - as everyone knew
that this campaign was the most divisive in our lifetimes. "What's different this time?"
There are some good theories out there, but I was surprised by one theory about three weeks ago
(more surprised by the source than the theory) near the back page of TIME Magazine. Typically,
Joel Stein is funny. He is a comedian, but in this issue he makes a serious point. He says: "Sure,
it feels like this Presidential Election is not about issues and is instead a barrage of insults, anger
and ugly revelations. But as anyone who has ever been in a romantic relationship can attest, a
barrage of insults, anger, and ugly revelations is [actually] how you know you're talking about
issues...."
He says: "Past presidential elections have focused on issues like how to structure the income tax
... or what the best health care system is ... or how to handle Vladimir Putin ...but this time we are
addressing the core issues that divide us: racism, sexual assault, Islamophobia, immigration,
elitism, anti-Semitism, authoritarianism and [in an attempt at humor, he adds] whether to require
drug test before political debates."
The historian Douglas Brinkley adds: "This [campaign] has been a hellbroth of stew that's been
tacky and tawdry, but the reason a lot is coming out is because we've been avoiding the big
conversations." "Now we are discussing what our culture should be like."
I would suggest there is a glimmer of hope in that, however painful. Yet however uncomfortable,
however painful, the Church is called to such conversations as we work toward reconciliation. The
great Old Testament scholar, Walter Brueggemann, says that "the Church should be a place where
pain can come to speech." And that sounds wonderful if it's MY pain coming to speech in a safe
place without judgment. But it's not so easy when it's someone else's pain especially if it's directed
at me.
I've heard our guest speaker refer to the "Three E's," as we work through difficult situations. The
Three E's are Esteem, Engage, and Excel. Esteem means to treat everyone as a child of God, and
appreciate them, and encourage them. Engage means to listen, and to tell the truth, and to wrestle
with the problem or issue - not the person. Excel means to commit to doing our best, to maintain
personal integrity, to seek development, and to dare to be creative. The work of reconciliation is
something more than "kumbaya," and anyone who has ever been seriously harmed or offended
knows that (which is everyone, I suspect).
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We are baptized for such moments as this. Last Spring I heard the Dean of the Seminary of the
Southwest, Cynthia Kittredge, preach at the traditional Evensong service on the night before
commencement. The appointed Gospel for the occasion was the story of James and John saying
to Jesus, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." And, as the
story goes, Jesus replies, “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the
baptism that I am baptized with?"
Dean Kittredge says: "Do you know what you are asking? Drink the cup means take on the cure,
drink the Kool-Aid. Take it in both hands and drink it, the cup of grief, the bitter cup of betrayal
and shame."
"To be baptized with my baptism means to go the whole hog, be all in, sign up for the whole
program, the Whole Enchilada. It's not sipping, not dipping. Drink her down, bottoms up. Take
the plunge into the deep waters."
As our Presiding Bishop says, we are baptized into a movement, called to change this world by
the power of God's love. We are part of a movement. One day Bishop Curry shared with the
House of Bishops how he came to understand the Church as a movement (one of the ways, at any
rate).
Maybe you've heard of Clarence Jordan. In the late 1960s he wrote "The Cotton Patch" version of
the Gospels, a translation of the Gospels set in his home-state of Georgia. I suspect there are some
clergy here who have these translations. At any rate, in the early 1940s Clarence Jordan created an
inter-racial Christian community, a community which was perceived as a threat during the Civil
Rights Movement. And in the face of such threats, Jordan made the claim that "the God Movement
is greater and deeper than the civil rights movement. The God Movement is the most revolutionary
movement in human history."
And in his translation of the Gospels, everywhere the word "kingdom" is used in most translations,
Jordan uses the word "movement." "The movement of God is at hand," for example. The
"Kingdom of God" and the "Kingdom of Heaven" are translated as the "God Movement" - the
most revolutionary movement in human history.
I believe there are numerous good reasons to understand ourselves as participating in God's
Movement. You have heard me say that Christianity is moving from presenting itself as a system
of beliefs to presenting itself as a way of life. For people are hungry for more than doctrine, more
than knowing ABOUT God. People are hungry for an encounter with God.
People are starved for a new way of life which leads to a sense of God’s presence, a path which
leads to the abundant life which Jesus promises, a path which leads to a sense of being alive. That's
the shift we are seeing. And more and more Christians from every comer of the Christian tradition
are returning to the ancient Christian practices which lead to life. We are moving from an emphasis
on doctrine (however important - and believe me, I think it is), and returning to an emphasis on
practice. Theologians and historians are reminding us of our ancient practices - that Christianity
in the beginning was a "WAY," a path, a movement.
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If you're wondering what I mean by "practice," think of it this way. Think of it as exercise. Think
of it as training. Brian McLaren says, "Practice may not make perfect, but... it does make currently
impossible things possible. The one who tries to run a marathon cannot do it, but the one who
trains eventually can."
Take for example a wonderfully gifted musician. We may experience her music as inspirational,
if not transcendent or ecstatic. I suspect there are times when even the musician would agree that
something glorious has filled her and her audience - and it is pure gift. Practice alone did not earn
that gift. By definition, we cannot earn a gift. But practice made it possible.
Practice can make the gifts of patience, and kindness, and courage, and forgiveness, and inner
peace possible. Practice can make the gift of an awareness of God's presence possible. Practice
can make the gift of communion with God and one another possible.
I assure you that the preacher is preaching to the preacher here. It was discovered last Sunday that
our diocesan office, the Bishop Hulsey Center, had been vandalized. On the east porch, someone
had written the same type of anti-Semitic, racist, homophobic threats that we are seeing around
the country.
Nancy Igo sent a photograph to the staff; I received it as I was driving back from the Diocese of
Fort Worth. At supper that night, I showed it to our son and daughter-in-law, and our daughter-in-
law (Jonna) said the following: "I feel sorry for someone like that - someone who is filled with so
much hate."
I've been "practicing" for a long time, and that was not my initial reaction. I am envious of such
an interiority. Some of us need more practice.
Having said that, it is not wrong to be angry. The fourth century saint, Augustine, said: "Hope has
two beautiful daughters; Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and courage to see that
they do not remain as they are." I'm mindful of a portion of the Franciscan Blessing: "May God
bless us with ANGER at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that we may work
for justice, freedom, and peace."
When we gather to celebrate the Holy Eucharist, or as we pray Morning Prayer, and we say the
General Confession together, we confess that we have not loved God "with our whole heart; we
have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry, and we humbly repent.”
I want to look at that word "repent" for a moment. In the culture, we tend to think of the word as
feeling bad for doing bad things, and in the Church, we tend to think that it means to turn around;
we are going the wrong way, so we need to turn around. And both of those understandings can be
helpful.
But the word "repent" in the Greek language means something more. It means "to go beyond the
mind," or "go into the larger mind." (Both William Temple and Cynthia Bourgeault tell us that.)
Jesus tells parables and stories that invite us to go beyond the way we typically think, to go into
the larger mind.
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And one way of going beyond our minds, and into the larger mind is to re-think how we understand
the Confession that "we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves." When Jesus commands us to
"love our neighbor as our self," he does not say to "love your neighbor AS MUCH AS yourself."
Cynthia Bourgeault points out: "It's just love your neighbor AS your self - as a continuation of
your very own being." To love our neighbor as our self is to see us as connected, as at-one. That's
what it would mean to go beyond the mind, to go into the larger mind, to repent.
That's how the mystics see the world - as connected. Interestingly enough, post modern science
(Quantum science, particle science, string theory - about which I know nothing) observes what the
mystics claim: that all is one; all is connected.
Every time we gather to celebrate the Holy Eucharist we are participating in God's vision for the
world - God’s vision of Holy Communion with God and one another. And I wonder if it's even
more than God's vision. Maybe we are participating in Reality, and we just need to repent, to go
into the larger mind, to see it. "We who are many are one Body, because we all partake in the one
Bread."
My recent sabbatical gave me time to reflect on the last seven years. I am so grateful to serve you
- and serve with you. I would like to close today's address with the same words I spoke eight
conventions ago, reading Nolan Kelley's description of my pectoral cross which he designed.
Nolan says in his description "the moon, stars, and sun on the arms of the cross reference the vast
open sky, a defining feature of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas." Even the shape of the
cross comes into play, as the discs which emanate from the cross serve to remind us of the mesas
that emerge from the expansive Northwest Texas horizon. The Latin word for the shape of the
cross itself means, "to open, to extend oneself."
Vast. Open. Expansive. Nolan has described our territory - the defining feature of this diocese.
Vast. Open. Expansive. And yet, he has described more than the territory. He has described your
heart. He has described our hearts on a clear day - and what our hearts can be when we "walk in
love, as Christ loved us." Vast. Open. Expansive.
I count it a huge privilege to walk this path – to participate in this Jesus Movement – with you.
Thank you.
+J. Scott Mayer
Page 42
Attachment D
Sermon Preached by The Rev. Gay Clark Jennings
November 19, 2016
Good morning Northwest Texas dancers and dreamers! I am delighted to be with you and I am
grateful to Bishop Mayer for inviting me to be with you at the 58th annual convention of the great
Diocese of Northwest Texas. It is a privilege and an honor to preach this morning and share the
Good News with you.
The theme of this diocesan convention is taken from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, chapter
10, verse 17: “We who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.”
The apostle Paul founded the church in Corinth and then went to Ephesus for three years. After
Paul left Corinth, the new church fell into dissension, division and strife. Immorality, greed, and
idolatry were rife, and Paul wrote as a corrective and to set the fledgling church back on course.
He called for discipline, endurance, faith in Jesus Christ, and reliance on the goodness and grace
of God. He offered a vision of intentional discipleship by exhorting them to be imitators of Jesus,
and he reminded the Corinthian believers that though they were many, they were one body in Jesus
through the breaking and sharing of bread. He called them to a way of life that was deeply counter-
cultural. So here we are in 2016, and we too are called to intentional discipleship – that same life
of discipline, endurance, faith in Jesus Christ, reliance on the goodness and grace of God, and a
commitment that though we are many, we are to be one body – the body of Christ.
And so I ask myself, is this how I truly want to live my life? And the same question is asked of
you.
Our son Sam is now 30. When he was entering his junior year in high school, he decided he wanted
to attend the vocational school and become an electrician. Off he went to the Cuyahoga Valley
Vocational Center in a neighboring town. He came home after his first day and announced he
wasn’t going back.
I asked why and he replied, “You could be toast!” I called the vocational school and told them he
wouldn’t be returning. They asked why, and I told them they overdid the safety speech.
So Sam and I went to meet with Mrs. Maxwell, the guidance counselor at the high school, so he
could change his courses and enroll again in the college prep track. Sam, who was born in
Colombia, South America, had previously refused to take Spanish, which I thought was a good
idea given his heritage. I told Sam that he would need to take a foreign language since he was back
in the college prep track. He responded by saying that he wasn’t going to college the way I thought
he was going to college.
I asked him what he meant by that. He said he wanted to go to Full Sail. “What’s that?” I asked
with not a small amount of skepticism. Mrs. Maxwell, in the meantime, was totally silent and no
help at all. Remember too that at the time this happened, I was the Canon to the Ordinary and had
responsibility for clergy searches and transitions. I did career counseling for a living!
Page 43
Sam told me that Full Sail was a school in Florida.
• “Why would you want to go there?”
• “To become a recording engineer.”
• “What’s that?”
• “The sound guy, Mom.”
• I asked him where he found out about this school and he said “Rolling Stone Magazine.”
• “Rolling Stone Magazine?” I said incredulously.
• “Yes Mom” Sam said calmly.
I found out later that Full sail is one of the top three schools in the nation for recording engineering.
So what did I do – experienced transition officer that I was? I began to extol the virtues of a 4-year
liberal arts education. Sam listened quietly. Mrs. Maxwell still didn’t say a word. I asked her for
some help, and she said I was doing fine on my own. I finally stopped talking. Sam looked at me,
and without any edge in his voice he said, “You know Mom, there are a lot of ways to make a
life.”
There are many ways we can make our lives and the one based on this verse of Holy Scripture is
not the easy choice. “We who are many are one body.” But is it the way you and I want to truly
make our lives? It’s not enough to appreciate a verse from Holy Scripture. Rather, Jesus calls us
to live a radical life based on love, and that kind of life is costly.
But what exactly is love according to Jesus?
You can say you understand the Gospel imperative to love, and fail to do anything about the need
in front of your face. You can feel good while watching a love story in a movie, but it requires
nothing of you.
For Jesus, love does not consist primarily in words, sentiments or feelings. For Jesus, love is the
courageous deed, the costly action, the daily care and nurture of another. It is living not only for
ourselves, but for others. That is what it means to be part of the body. For Jesus, love is not simply
love of people in general. More precisely, it is love of neighbor. It is a concrete love of wife,
husband, parent, child, friend, co-worker, boss (that one can be hard), sister, brother, grandchild,
acquaintance, friend, colleague, parishioner – the list goes on and on.
This call to live a life on behalf of others isn’t supposed to happen when we have more time, or
more money, or fewer hardships or problems of our own. This call to live a life on behalf of others,
as part of one body, is supposed to happen now. I can’t tell you how to do that. But I know the best
way to start something is to start small and then let it grow. This week, choose one small way to
live your life on behalf of someone else. I’ll do the same.
In loving God and loving our neighbor, we proclaim by our actions, not just words, that every
person is the beloved child of God – created in God’s image, loved and redeemed by Jesus, and
comforted by the Spirit.
Page 44
The Gospel call to unity, to be one body in Christ, begins with the acknowledgment and belief that
each person is created in God’s image and has a dignity based on that and that alone. There can be
no real unity, or reconciliation for that matter, when that belief is absent.
Let’s live in confidence that we are one body, partaking of one bread, and drinking from one cup.
And let’s remember that as one body – the Body of Christ – we can live a common life even when
we disagree. That may well be our vocation to a divided world – that unity is not found in
uniformity or like-mindedness or agreement. We don’t have to agree with one another, be it about
politics, or the environment, our favorite hymns, theological questions, or social issues. Our unity
is found in Jesus Christ – first, last, and always. That faith is what will hold us together when the
world swirls around us. May this be how we make our lives – as individuals, as congregations, and
as the Diocese of Northwest Texas.
Let us pray:
Gracious God:
Grant us a new dream
to awaken our spirit,
to revive our faith,
to restore our wisdom.
Set us to work
to value your gifts,
to transform our communities,
and live your resurrected life.
We ask it in the name of the God of love.
Amen.
Page 45
Attachment E
2016 Annual Diocesan Convention Necrology List
Norman Allen, All Saints’, Perryton
William Lake “Bill” Arrington, St. Matthew’s, Pampa
Deacon Janice Byrd, retired
John W. Cooper III, St. John’s, Odessa
James Couzzourt, clergy spouse
Bobby Crues, St. Nicholas, Midland
Bill Doyle, St. Peter’s, Amarillo
Pam Farmer, Trinity, Albany
Peter Figert, St. John’s, Odessa
Amy McSpadden Gilliland, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo
The Rev. Leslie Ann Burtner Gregory, retired
Dodge Hubbard, Heavenly Rest, Abilene
Edith Hungerford, St. John’s, Odessa
Deacon Patricia C. Knight, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo
The Rev. Charles McIntyre, retired
Moncure "Pat" MacKenzie, St. Paul’s, Lubbock
Gerald Gene Payne, St. Thomas, Hereford
Ruth Payne, clergy spouse
Deacon Roland Rose, retired
Deacon Jessie H. Vaughn, Grace, Vernon
The Rev. John R. Watson, retired
Frederick Earl Westmoreland, Holy Trinity, Midland
Mary Wylie Williamson, Heavenly Rest, Abilene
Deacon Harriett Ann Purkeypile Wilkins, retired
Page 46
$0 Actual Y/E 2015
Amended Budget
2016
Approved Budget
2017Percent
4000 -- SUPPORT AND REVENUE4010 Congregational Support from Apportionment 918,387$ 929,912$ 939,998$ 80.523%4020 Designated Investment Income-BTQ Endowment 103,357 101,276 88,574 7.587%4021 Designated Investment Income-BQCC Endowment 20,000 - - 0.000%4022 Designated Investment Income-BQCC Endowment 46,173 46,049 39,462 3.380%4023 Designated Investment Income-BQCC Endowment 11,658 11,512 11,275 0.966%4025 Designated Investment Income-Additional Request - - - 0.000%4030 Transfer From SADE Account 26,659 12,250 18,947 1.623%4035 Transfer From Trustees Account 27,600 28,600 28,600 2.450%4040 Contributions/Misc Income 264 - - 0.000%4050 Prior Year Apportionment 6,000 6,000 515 0.044%4060 Diocese of Fort Worth - 75,000 75,000 6.425%4080 Contingency -$ (35,000)$ (35,000) -2.998%
4000 -- TOTAL SUPPORT AND REVENUE 1,160,098$ 1,175,599$ 1,167,371$ 100.000%
DISBURSEMENTS5000 -- DIOCESAN OUTREACH AND MISSIONARY SUPPORT5100 -- Diocesan Outreach
5120 Companion Diocese 6,000$ 6,000$ 6,000$ 0.514%5150 Seminary of the Southwest 500 500 500 0.043%5160 University of the South 500 500 500 0.043%
5100 -- Total Diocesan Outreach 7,000$ 7,000$ 7,000$ 0.600%
5200 -- Mission Within the Diocese5205 -- Support to Mission Churches5210 -- Mission Churches Property & Liability Insurance
5211 Trinity, Albany 3,187$ 2,345$ 2,580$ 0.221%5213 Good Shepherd, Brownfield 1,769 1,541 1,695 0.145%5214 St. George's, Canyon 3,793 2,257 2,483 0.213%5216 St. John the Baptist, Clarendon 3,488 1,826 2,009 0.172%5217 St. Mark's, Coleman 5,405 2,814 3,095 0.265%5218 All Saints', Colorado City 2,754 1,931 2,124 0.182%5219 St. Paul's, Dumas 3,182 1,865 2,052 0.176%5220 St. Thomas', Hereford 6,830 4,351 4,786 0.410%5222 St. Luke's, Levelland 1,969 1,595 1,755 0.150%5225 San Miguel, Odessa 2,223 2,264 2,490 0.213%5226 All Saints', Perryton 1,038 1,081 1,189 0.102%5228 St. Michael's, Shamrock 1,796 1,582 1,740 0.149%5229 St. Stephen's, Sweetwater 6,242 2,964 3,260 0.279%5230 Grace, Vernon 4,002 2,513 2,764 0.237%5235 Reimbursement of Premiums (50%) (23,839) (15,464) (17,011) -1.457%
5210 -- Total Mission Churches Property and Liability Insurance 23,839$ 15,465$ 17,011$ 1.457%
5240 -- Financial Support to Mission Churches5241 Trinity, Albany -$ -$ -$ 0.000%5243 Good Shepherd, Brownfield 500 500 500 0.043%5244 St. George's, Canyon 500 500 500 0.043%5246 St. John the Baptist, Clarendon - - - 0.000%5247 St. Mark's, Coleman - - - 0.000%5248 All Saints', Colorado City 12,000 12,000 12,000 1.028%5249 St. Paul's, Dumas 5,591 4,500 4,500 0.385%5250 St. Thomas', Hereford - - - 0.000%5252 St. Luke's, Levelland 2,750 2,750 2,750 0.236%5255 San Miguel, Odessa - - 0.000%5256 All Saints', Perryton 500 500 500 0.043%5258 St. Michael's, Shamrock 500 500 500 0.043%5259 St. Stephen's, Sweetwater - - - 0.000%5260 Grace, Vernon 500 500 500 0.043%5264 Reimbursements From Designated Funds - - (7,375) -0.632%
5240 -- Total Financial Support to Mission Churches 22,841$ 21,750$ 14,375$ 1.231%5205 -- Total Support to Mission Churches 46,680$ 37,215$ 31,386$ 2.689%
Attachment FEPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF NORTHWEST TEXAS
2017 OPERATING BUDGET(Adopted at the 58th Diocesan Convention on 11/18/2016) $0.00
Page 47
$0 Actual Y/E 2015
Amended Budget
2016
Approved Budget
2017Percent
5300 -- Program Support to College Ministries5310 Texas Tech-Direct Support 22,576$ 20,000$ 20,000$ 1.713%5350 United Campus Minstry-ASU 4,000 4,000 4,000 0.343%
5300 -- Total Support to College Ministries 26,576$ 24,000$ 24,000$ 2.056%
5812.5 Youth Director Mtg and Trvl 1,566 2,000 2,000 0.171%5813 Safeguarding 6,242 6,429 6,429 0.551%5814 Safeguarding FICA 478 492 492 0.042%5815 Safeguarding Mtg and Trvl 701 600 600 0.051%
5800 -- Total Diocesan Youth Ministry 56,729$ 52,597$ 52,597$ 4.506%
5900 -- Other Ministries5960 Medical Insurance for Retired Persons 2,100$ 2,280$ 2,508$ 0.215%5965 Group Life Insurance for Retired Persons 2,712 2,672 2,939 0.252%
5900 -- Total Other Ministries 4,812$ 4,952$ 5,447$ 0.467%5200 -- Total Mission Within the Diocese 320,963$ 322,956$ 308,166$ 26.398%
5000 -- TOTAL DIOCESAN OUTREACH AND MISSIONARY SUPPORT 327,963$ 329,956$ 315,166$ 26.998%
Page 48
$0 Actual Y/E 2015
Amended Budget
2016
Approved Budget
2017Percent
6000 -- OUR SHARED LIFE IN THE LARGER CHURCH6050 DFMS Support 100,353$ 102,578$ 117,900$ 10.100%6150 University of the South Trustees' Expenses - 500 500 0.043%6250 Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations - 1,800 1,800 0.154%6300 Bishop's 2018 General Convention Expenses 1,200 1,200 1,200 0.103%6350 Deputies' 2018 General Convention Expenses 11,000 11,000 11,000 0.942%6400 ECW 2018 Triennial Expenses 1,200 1,200 1,200 0.103%6450 Lambeth Conference Expenses 1,200 1,200 1,200 0.103%6500 Provincial Synod Assessment 787 1,573 1,573 0.135%6600 Provincial Synod Representatives' Expenses 1,800 1,800 1,800 0.154%6650 Millennium Development Goals 6,997 - - 0.000%
6000 -- TOTAL OUR SHARED LIFE IN LARGER CHURCH 124,537$ 122,851$ 138,173$ 11.836%
7000 -- EPISCOPATE AND OTHER SUPPORT FOR MISSION7100 -- Bishop
7900 -- Total Insurance, Accounting & Legal Expenses 52,476$ 46,680$ 47,493$ 4.068%7000 -- TOTAL EPISCOPATE AND OTHER SUPPORT FOR MISSION 707,445$ 722,792$ 714,032$ 61.166%
8000 -- Contingency Reserve -$ -$ -$
TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS 1,159,945$ 1,175,599$ 1,167,371$ 100.000%
SURPLUS (DEFICIT) 154$ -$ -$
Page 50
CHURCHES 2014 Box A 15% 2015 Box A 15%ABILENE, HEAVENLY REST 856,059$ 128,409$ 903,895$ 135,584$ ABILENE, ST. MARK'S 58,215 8,732 65,346 9,802 ALBANY, TRINITY * 17,995 1,350 23,924 1,794 AMARILLO, ST. ANDREW'S 921,670 138,251 1,009,275 151,391 AMARILLO, ST. PETER'S 221,042 33,156 188,229 28,234 BIG SPRING, ST. MARY'S 124,562 18,684 107,789 16,168 BORGER, ST. PETER'S 41,031 6,155 37,597 5,640 BROWNFIELD, GOOD SHEPHERD 15,394 2,309 13,888 2,083 CANYON, ST. GEORGE'S 26,719 4,008 34,306 5,146 CLARENDON, ST. JOHN'S 18,345 2,752 9,845 1,477 COLEMAN, ST. MARK'S 46,775 7,016 47,477 7,122 COLORADO CITY, ALL SAINTS' 12,935 1,940 19,185 2,878 DALHART, ST. JAMES' 123,597 18,540 94,157 14,124 DUMAS, ST. PAUL'S 4,288 643 3,557 534 HEREFORD, ST. THOMAS' 15,575 2,336 14,655 2,198 LEVELLAND, ST. LUKE'S 18,489 2,773 16,308 2,446 LUBBOCK, ST. CHRISTOPHER'S 218,853 32,828 204,824 30,724 LUBBOCK, ST. PAUL'S 424,228 63,634 395,699 59,355 LUBBOCK, ST. STEPHEN'S 305,410 45,812 342,697 51,405 MIDLAND, HOLY TRINITY 658,735 98,810 666,820 100,023 MIDLAND, ST. NICHOLAS' 498,129 74,719 386,827 58,024 ODESSA, SAN MIGUEL 29,870 4,481 32,065 4,810 ODESSA, ST. BARNABAS' 264,947 39,742 249,197 37,379 ODESSA, ST. JOHN'S 174,302 26,145 164,812 24,722 PAMPA, ST. MATTHEW'S 160,711 24,107 168,833 25,325 PERRYTON, ALL SAINTS' * 22,380 1,679 24,638 1,848 PLAINVIEW, ST. MARK'S 18,847 2,827 19,895 2,984 SAN ANGELO, EMMANUEL 666,252 99,938 751,149 112,672 SAN ANGELO, GOOD SHEPHERD 106,092 15,914 153,194 22,979 SHAMROCK, ST. MICHAEL'S * 34,409 2,581 18,114 1,358 SWEETWATER, ST. STEPHEN'S 107,309 16,096 109,400 16,410 VERNON, GRACE 23,640 3,546 22,394 3,359
TOTALS 6,236,805$ 929,912$ 6,299,991$ 939,998$ Net change from 2016 to 2017 10,086$
* = Congregation at 7.5% of Box A
2017 APPORTIONMENTS(Adopted at 58th Diocesan Convention on 11/18/2016)
APPROVED 2017APPROVED 2016
Page 51
STANDING COMMITTEE
Report to the Annual Convention of the Diocese, October 1, 2015 to August 1, 2016
Committee Members: The Rev. Robert F. Pace (President), St. Andrew's, Amarillo; The Rev.
Claire Cowden (Secretary), St. Andrew's, Amarillo; Barbara Tom Jowell, Holy Trinity, Midland,
Kirk McLaughlin, St. Paul's, Lubbock; The Rev. Matt Rowe, Emmanuel, San Angelo; and Jane
Wolf, St. Nicholas, Midland.
Episcopal Consents:
1. To the election of Douglas Sparks as Bishop Diocesan of the Diocese of Northern
Indiana.
2. To the election of Patrick Bell as Bishop Diocesan of the Diocese of Eastern Oregon.
3. To the election of a Bishop Coadjutor for the Diocese of Los Angeles.
4. To the election of David G. P. Gutierrez as Bishop Diocesan of the Diocese of
Pennsylvania.
5. To the election of a Bishop Suffragan for the Diocese of West Texas.
6. To the election of the Rt. Rev. Santosh K. Murray as Bishop Diocesan for the Diocese
of Easton.
Holy Orders in this Diocese:
1. Claire Makins was approved for Candidacy.
2. Justin Gibson was approved for Candidacy and for ordination to the Transitional
Diaconate.
3. Christian Rabone, was approved for Candidacy and for ordination to the Transitional
Diaconate.
4. Thomas Keith was approved for ordination to the Transitional Diaconate.
5. Doug Thomas was approved for the Transitional Diaconate and was certified for
ordination to the priesthood.
6. James Walker was approved for the Transitional Diaconate and was certified for
ordination to the priesthood.
7. Jill Walters was approved for the Transitional Diaconate and was certified for
ordination to the priesthood.
8. Amanda Watson was approved for the Transitional Diaconate and was certified for
ordination to the priesthood.
9. Dave Blakley was approved for ordination to the vocational Diaconate.
10. Mildred Rugger was approved for ordination to the vocational Diaconate.
Other Actions:
1. Resolution for the 2015 Convention to relieve the 2014 apportionment for Good
Shepherd, San Angelo.
2. Resolution for the 2015 Convention to extend audit deadline for San Miguel
Arcangel, Odessa, and Grace, Vernon.
3. Standing Committee letter of support to the diocese for the Bishop's sabbatical.
Page 52
The Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas
Board of Trustees Meeting
May 28, 2015, 10:00 a.m.
Hulsey Episcopal Center, Lubbock, Texas
Voting members present: Mr. Frank Deaderick; Mrs. Sally Emerson; Mr. Paul Goebel; Mr.
Carrol Holley (Treasurer); and The Rt. Rev. Scott Mayer (President)
Voting members absent: Mr. Ricky Bowman; Mrs. Nancy Estes
Non-voting members present: The Rev. Canon Mike Ehmer (Canon to the Ordinary and Secretary)
Non-voting members absent: Mr. Tom Choate (Chancellor); Mr. Kirk McLaughlin (Standing
Committee Representative)
Bishop’s staff members present: Mrs. Anna Mora (Financial Manager)
Opening Prayer
The meeting began at 10:05 a.m. with prayer by Bishop Mayer.
McDonald Capital Management
Mr. Eric McDonald and Mr. Andrew Cunningham of McDonald Capital Management presented a report
to the Board. The chart below indicates the Performance Summary By Account, as presented.
Account
Inception
Date
Value as of
5/19/15
Previous 12
months Net
Return
Previous 3
year Net
Return
Inception to
Date Net
Return
Conference Center 9/22/2011 $1,170,011.38 4.71% 7.57% 8.29%
Canon Ehmer presented a written request from St. Michael and All Angels, Shamrock, for
$4,500.00 from three of the funds held in the Trustee Account on their behalf to pay for the
installation of an air conditioning and heating system in their church. Mr. Holley recommended
those funds be distributed as follows:
Wilsam Hill Memorial $754.65
Shamrock – Aldous 3,097.03
Shamrock – Smith 648.32
Mr. Goebel moved to approve the request as presented. Mr. Deaderick seconded the motion; and
it was approved unanimously.
Canon Ehmer reported that the diocese had received an offer to lease property for oil, gas and
mineral production. The offer was reviewed by Mr. Bill Russell and Mr. Choate and found to be
unacceptable. Mr. Choate made a counter offer, which was rejected; therefore, the issue was
closed.
Bishop Mayer opened a discussion regarding the possibility of purchasing a house in Odessa to
serve as a vicarage for our Hispanic/Latino Missioner at San Miguel. The Board agreed to
continue exploring that possibility.
Adjournment
Following general remarks by Bishop Mayer on changes in clergy positions around the diocese and some of the items associated with the upcoming General Convention, the meeting was adjourned at 1:10 p.m.
The next meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 27, 2015, in
the Hulsey Episcopal Center, Lubbock.
Respectfully Submitted,
The Rev. Canon Mike Ehmer (Canon to the Ordinary)
Secretary
Approved,
The Rt. Rev. J Scott Mayer (Bishop)
President
Page 55
The Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas
Board of Trustees Meeting
August 27, 2015, 10:00 a.m.
Hulsey Episcopal Center, Lubbock, Texas
Voting members present: Mr. Ricky Bowman; Mr. Frank Deaderick; Mrs. Sally Emerson; Mrs.
Nancy Estes; Mr. Paul Goebel; Mr. Carrol Holley (Treasurer); and
The Rt. Rev. Scott Mayer (President)
Non-voting members present: The Rev. Canon Mike Ehmer (Canon to the Ordinary and Secretary);
Mr. Kirk McLaughlin (Standing Committee Representative)
Non-voting members absent: Mr. Tom Choate (Chancellor)
Bishop’s staff members present: Mrs. Anna Mora (Financial Manager)
Opening Prayer
The meeting began at 10:05 a.m. with prayer by Bishop Mayer.
Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the May 28, 2015 meeting were approved as presented.
Old Business
Diocesan Gift Policy: Canon Ehmer presented a newly revised version of the draft Gift
Acceptance Policies and Guidelines that included amendments from the Board’s previous
meeting. During the meeting, additional changes were made to paragraphs: II, B; IV; V, B, 3; V,
B, 5; V, B, 6; and V, B, 7. Mr. Goebel made a motion to adopt the Gift Acceptance Policies and
Guidelines as amended. Mrs. Emerson seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously.
Canon Ehmer will email copies of the final document to each Trustee.
Good Shepherd, San Angelo: Bishop Mayer reported there were no changes concerning Good
Shepherd, San Angelo since the last meeting. The previous meeting’s question regarding property
and liability insurance for the old property was still being researched.
Update on All Saints’, Colorado City Stained Glass Restoration: Canon Ehmer reported there
were no changes since the last meeting.
Investment Report – McDonald Capital Management Mr. Holley distributed and briefly reviewed the memo and report to the Board from McDonald Capital
Management. The chart below indicates the Performance Summary by Account, as of August 21, 2015.
Account
Inception
Date
Value as of
8/21/15
Previous 12
months Net
Return
Previous 3
year Net
Return
Inception to
Date Net
Return
Conference Center 9/22/2011 $1,107,475.55 1.03% 5.01% 6.72%
All Saints’, Colorado City stained glass restoration: Canon Ehmer reported the work is still
ongoing, currently awaiting parts from England.
Diocesan oil holding: Mrs. Estes reported on four properties in Martin County that were all
producing and for which we should be receiving income. She provided information to Mrs. Mora
who will compare them with the diocesan records and also provide Mrs. Estes information on
other diocesan properties.
Good Shepherd, San Angelo: Canon Ehmer reported that the legal team is awaiting the outcome
of a recent hearing.
Mr. Holley informed the Board that the steps previously approved regarding the note on the
bishop’s house have been completed.
New Business
Mr. Holley moved to formally approve the specific amounts from the investments requested by
the diocesan budget committee for the 2017 diocesan operating budget: $88,574 from the Bishops
Temple Quarterman Fund (4.5% spend rate); $39,462 from the Conference Center Endowment
for general operations (3.5% spend rate); and $11,275 from the Conference Center Endowment
for summer camps (1.0% spend rate). He also moved the following transfers from the specified
funds in the Trustee Endowment Account to support the ministries for which they were
established: $6,600 from the Diocesan Maintenance Fund; $2,000 from the Education Fund;
$15,000 from the Seaman Hall Operating Endowment; and $5,000 from the Texas Tech
Canterbury Fund. Mr. Deaderick seconded the motion; it was approved unanimously.
Canon Ehmer informed the Trustees of a lawsuit against the diocese from an individual seeking
to clear a property title in Yoakum County. The attorney filed such actions for any possible
conflicts with the property. Mr. Choate, diocesan chancellor, investigated the situation and,
having confirmed we do not hold any property in Yoakum County, is in the process of filing the
appropriate paperwork to settle the suit without expense to the diocese.
Deacon Nancy Igo, the individual on the bishop’s staff responsible for maintaining the Hulsey
Episcopal Center property, briefed the Trustees regarding non-operating maintenance issues
around the building, including the wooden fence and the eaves under the roof and other exterior
trim problems. She has two bids for the work and one other bid outstanding. The board agreed to
wait for the final bid to arrive, at which time the secretary, Canon Ehmer, will email the
information to the board members to vote for approval via email for expenditures from the
Diocesan Maintenance Fund.
Canon Ehmer updated the board on Bishop Mayer during his sabbatical.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:55 a.m.
The next meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 1, 2016, in
the Hulsey Episcopal Center, Lubbock.
Respectfully Submitted,
The Rev. Canon Mike Ehmer (Canon to the Ordinary)
Secretary
Approved,
The Rt. Rev. J Scott Mayer (Bishop)
President
Page 71
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE DIOCESE OF NORTHWEST TEXAS
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MINUTES
FEBRUARY 25, 2016
ST. STEPHEN’S CHURCH, LUBBOCK, TEXAS
Members Present: Rt. Rev. Scott Mayer, the Rev. Canon Mike Ehmer, Carrol Holley, Michael
Pullen, Jo Ann Rachele, the Rev. Jean Scott, Dick Ford, Annabel House, and the Rev. Jennifer
Holder
Members Absent: Tom Choate, the Rev. Les Jackson, the Rev. Dede Schuler Ballou, and Yvonne
Batts
Others Present: Anna Mora and Elizabeth Thames
The meeting was opened in prayer by Bishop Mayer at 10:08 a.m. Roll call followed.
Annabel House moved the minutes of the September 2, 2015 Executive Council meeting be
approved as presented. Dick Ford seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Staff Reports
Renee Haney, Diocesan Youth Coordinator, by written report.
The Rev. Nancy Igo, Director of Communications and Human Resources, by written report.
The Rev. Jennifer Holder presented an oral report on Texas Tech Canterbury Campus Ministry.
She discussed the upcoming trip to Canterbury and the members have been working very hard at
fundraising for their trip. The people of the diocese have been wonderful in supporting this
ministry. She provided updates on attendance, confirmations, and baptisms.
Canon to the Ordinary, the Rev. Canon Mike Ehmer, presented an oral report. He provided
updates on new clergy deployments, clergy openings, conferences attended, Commission on
Ministry, School of Ordained Ministry, Congregational Development, IONA Initiative, Fresh
Start, and meetings with the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance.
Bishop’s Report/Announcements
Bishop Mayer provided an update on his meeting in New York with the Presiding Bishop,
visitation of our companion diocese, Episcopal Diocese of the Dominican Republic, and his
tentative sabbatical, July to October, 2016.
2015 Finances
Carrol Holley reviewed the 2015 Budget Operating Fund (with proposed amendments), and
SADE accounts.
Dick Ford moved to approve the 2015 Amended Budget. Jo Ann Rachele seconded the motion.
Motion carried unanimously.
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Housing Resolutions (See Attachment)
The 2016 Clergy Compensation Resolution, written report, was reviewed for the Rev. Canon
Joseph Michael Ehmer. The Rev. Jean Scott moved and Jo Ann Rachele seconded to ratify the
2016 Clergy Compensation Resolution as of January 1, 2016. The motion carried unanimously.
The 2016 Clergy Compensation Resolution, written report, was reviewed for the Rev. Nancy
Igo. Dick Ford moved and Carrol Holley seconded to ratify the 2016 Clergy Compensation
Resolution as of January 1, 2016. The motion carried unanimously.
The 2016 Clergy Compensation Resolution, written report, was reviewed for the Rev. Jennifer
Holder. The Rev. Jean Scott moved and Annabel House seconded to ratify the 2016 Clergy
Compensation Resolution as of January 1, 2016. The motion carried unanimously.
The 2016 Clergy Compensation Resolution, written report, was reviewed for the Rev. Jennifer
Holder. Jo Ann Rachele moved and Dick Ford seconded to ratify the 2016 Clergy Compensation
Resolution as of April 1, 2016. The motion carried unanimously.
The 2016 Clergy Compensation Resolution, written report, was reviewed for the Rt. Rev. James
Scott Mayer. Annabel House moved and Carrol Holley seconded to ratify the 2016 Clergy
Compensation Resolution as of January 1, 2016. The motion carried unanimously.
The 2016 Clergy Compensation Resolution, written report, was reviewed for the Rev. Alberto
Moreno Casas. The Rev. Jean Scott moved and Jo Ann Rachele seconded to ratify the 2016
Clergy Compensation Resolution as of January 1, 2016. The motion carried unanimously.
All items on the agenda having been addressed Bishop Mayer called for meeting adjournment.
After a closing prayer, the meeting adjourned at 11:51 a.m.
The next meeting of the Executive Council will be held on Thursday, August 25, 2016 at St.
Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Lubbock, beginning at 10:00 am.
Michael Pullen
Secretary
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Attachment to the Minutes of Executive Council Meeting, February 25, 2016
The Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas 2016 Compensation Resolutions
The Reverend Canon Joseph Michael (Mike) Ehmer
Whereas, section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code permits ministers to exclude from gross income (in computing federal income taxes) a church-designated housing allowance paid to them as part of their compensation to the extent used for actual expenses in owning or renting a home; and
Whereas, the Reverend Canon Joseph Michael (Mike) Ehmer is compensated by the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas exclusively for services as a minister; and
Whereas, the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas does not provide the Reverend Joseph Michael (Mike) Ehmer with a parsonage; therefore, it is
Resolved, that the total compensation paid to the Reverend Canon Joseph Michael (Mike) Ehmer for calendar year 2016 shall be $95,960 stipend of which $50,000 is hereby designated as a housing allowance pursuant to section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code; and it is further
Resolved, that the designation of $50,000 of the Reverend Joseph Michael (Mike) Ehmer’s annual compensation as a housing allowance also shall apply to all future years that the Reverend Joseph Michael (Mike) Ehmer is employed by the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas, unless otherwise provided.
The Reverend Nancy Igo
Whereas, section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code permits ministers to exclude from gross income (in computing federal income taxes) a church-designated housing allowance paid to them as part of their compensation to the extent used for actual expenses in owning or renting a home; and
Whereas, the Reverend Nancy Igo is compensated by the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas exclusively for services as a minister; and
Whereas, the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas does not provide the Reverend Nancy Igo with a parsonage; therefore, it is
Resolved, that the total compensation paid to the Reverend Nancy Igo for calendar year 2016 shall be $47,975 stipend of which $13,375 is hereby designated as a housing allowance pursuant to section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code; and it is further
Resolved, that the designation of $13,375 of the Reverend Nancy Igo’s annual compensation as a housing allowance also shall apply to all future years that the Reverend Nancy Igo is employed by the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas, unless otherwise provided.
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The Reverend Jennifer Holder
Whereas, section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code permits ministers to exclude from gross income (in computing federal income taxes) a church-designated housing allowance paid to them as part of their compensation to the extent used for actual expenses in owning or renting a home; and
Whereas, the Reverend Jennifer Holder is compensated by the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas exclusively for services as a minister; and
Whereas, the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas does not provide the Reverend Jennifer Holder with a parsonage; therefore, it is
Resolved, that the total compensation paid to the Reverend Jennifer Holder for calendar year 2016 shall be $34,445 stipend of which $28,000 is hereby designated as a housing allowance pursuant to section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code; and it is further
Resolved, that the designation of $28,000 of the Reverend Jennifer Holder’s annual compensation as a housing allowance also shall apply to all future years that the Reverend Jennifer Holder is employed by the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas, unless otherwise provided.
The Reverend Jennifer Holder (Effective April 1, 2016)
Whereas, section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code permits ministers to exclude from gross income (in computing federal income taxes) a church-designated housing allowance paid to them as part of their compensation to the extent used for actual expenses in owning or renting a home; and
Whereas, the Reverend Jennifer Holder is compensated by the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas exclusively for services as a minister; and
Whereas, the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas does not provide the Reverend Jennifer Holder with a parsonage; therefore, it is
Resolved, that the total compensation paid to the Reverend Jennifer Holder for calendar year 2016 shall be $55,736 stipend of which $30,000 is hereby designated as a housing allowance pursuant to section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code; and it is further
Resolved, that the designation of $30,000 of the Reverend Jennifer Holder’s annual compensation as a housing allowance also shall apply to all future years that the Reverend Jennifer Holder is employed by the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas, unless otherwise provided.
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The Rt. Reverend James Scott Mayer
Whereas, section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code permits ministers to exclude from gross income (in computing federal income taxes) a church-designated housing allowance paid to them as part of their compensation to the extent used for actual expenses in owning or renting a home; and
Whereas, the Rt. Reverend James Scott Mayer is compensated by the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas exclusively for services as a minister; and
Whereas, the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas does not provide the Rt. Reverend James Scott Mayer with a parsonage; therefore, it is
Resolved, that the total compensation paid to the Rt. Reverend James Scott Mayer for calendar year 2016 shall be $165,000 stipend of which $50,000 is hereby designated as a housing allowance pursuant to section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code; and it is further
Resolved, that the designation of $50,000 of the Rt. Reverend James Scott Mayer’s annual compensation as a housing allowance also shall apply to all future years that the Rt. Reverend James Scott Mayer is employed by the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas, unless otherwise provided.
The Reverend Alberto Moreno Casas
Whereas, section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code permits ministers to exclude from gross income (in computing federal income taxes) a church-designated housing allowance paid to them as part of their compensation to the extent used for actual expenses in owning or renting a home; and
Whereas, the Reverend Alberto Moreno Casas is compensated by the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas exclusively for services as a minister; and
Whereas, the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas does not provide the Reverend Alberto Moreno Casas with a parsonage; therefore, it is
Resolved, that the total compensation paid to the Reverend Alberto Moreno Casas for calendar year 2016 shall be $64,370 stipend of which $14,852 is hereby designated as a housing allowance pursuant to section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code; and it is further
Resolved, that the designation of $14,852 of the Reverend Alberto Moreno Casas’ annual compensation as a housing allowance also shall apply to all future years that the Reverend Alberto Moreno Casas is employed by the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas, unless otherwise provided.
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THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE DIOCESE OF NORTHWEST TEXAS
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MINUTES
AUGUST 25, 2016
ST. STEPHEN’S CHURCH, LUBBOCK, TEXAS
Members Present: The Rev. Canon Mike Ehmer, Carrol Holley, Michael Pullen, the Rev. Jean
Scott, Dick Ford, the Rev. Dede Schuler Ballou, Annabel House, Yvonne Batts, and the Rev.
Jennifer Holder
Members Absent: Rt. Rev. Scott Mayer, Tom Choate, and Jo Ann Rachele
Others Present: None
The meeting was opened by Dick Ford at 10:12 a.m. Dick announced since Bishop Mayer is on
sabbatical, as Vice President of Executive Council, he is responsible for chairing the meeting.
The Rev. Jean Scott led us in prayer. Roll call followed.
Annabel House moved the minutes of the February 25, 2016 Executive Council meeting be
approved as presented. The Rev. Jean Scott seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
2016 Finances
Carrol Holley reviewed the year-to-date 2016 Budget Operating Fund (along with proposed
amendments) and the SADE accounts.
The Rev. Dede Schuler Ballou moved to approve the 2016 Amended Budget as presented. The
Rev. Jean Scott seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Break – 11:27 a.m. to 11:35 a.m.
2017 Finances
Carrol Holley reviewed the 2017 Proposed Budget Operating Fund and 2017 Proposed
Apportionments.
Yvonne Batts moved to approve the 2017 Apportionment rate of 15%. The Rev. Dede Schuler
Ballou seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Annabel House moved to accept the 2017 proposed Operating Budget. The Rev. Jean Scott
seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Staff Reports
Renee Haney, Diocesan Youth Coordinator, by written report.
The Rev. Nancy Igo, Director of Communications and Human Resources, by written report.
The Rev. Jennifer Holder presented an oral report on Texas Tech Canterbury Campus Ministry.
She discussed the successful trip to Canterbury, working half time at Canterbury while working
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half time at a local parish, and provided updates on attendance, confirmations, and baptisms. She
announced Texas Tech Canterbury is a Pokémon Go stop.
Canon to the Ordinary, the Rev. Canon Mike Ehmer, presented an oral report. He provided
updates on new clergy deployments, clergy openings, conferences attended, Commission on
Ministry, School of Ordained Ministry, Congregational Development, IONA Initiative, Fresh
Start, 2017 Diocesan Convention, and on Bishop Mayer’s sabbatical.
All items on the agenda having been addressed Dick Ford called for meeting adjournment. After
a closing prayer by the Rev. Jennifer Holder the meeting adjourned at 1:24 p.m.
Diocesan Convention is November 17-19, 2016 in Lubbock.
Michael Pullen
Secretary
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Commission on Ministry
Report to the Annual Convention of
the Diocese
The Commission on Ministry (COM) has met three times since the last formal report to convention:
October 15, 2015, March 4, 2016, and April 1, 2016
There have been 12 ordinations in the diocese since the last report:
Thomas Keith to the transitional diaconate on December 12, 2015 at Heavenly Rest, Abilene
Doug Thomas to the transitional diaconate on December 12, 2015 at Heavenly Rest, Abilene
Jim Walker to the transitional diaconate on December 12, 2015 at Heavenly Rest, Abilene
Jill Walters to the transitional diaconate on December 12, 2015 at Heavenly Rest, Abilene
Dave Blakley to the diaconate on January 23, 2016 at St. Andrew’s, Amarillo
Mildred Rugger to the diaconate on January 23, 2016 at St. Andrew’s, Amarillo
Justin Gibson to the transitional diaconate on June 4, 2016 at St. Paul’s, Lubbock
Christian Rabone to the transitional diaconate on June 4, 2016 at St. Paul’s, Lubbock
Jim Walker to the priesthood on June 21, 2016 at St. Luke’s, Levelland; now serves as vicar at St.
Luke’s
Doug Thomas to the priesthood on June 23, 2016 at Heavenly Rest, Abilene; now serves as
assistant priest at Heavenly Rest
Amanda Watson to the priesthood on June 23, 2016 at Heavenly Rest, Abilene; now serves as
assistant priest at Heavenly Rest
Jill Walters to the priesthood on June 26, 2016 at St. Andrew’s, Amarillo; now serves as associate
rector at St. Andrew’s and chaplain to St. Andrew’s school.
There are currently 10 individuals at various stages of the ordination process:
7 seeking ordination to the priesthood:
o 3 Transitional deacons
o 1 Postulant in the second year of study in local formation
o 2 Postulants attending seminary
o 1 Postulant attending a one-year Anglican study course at seminary
3 Postulants seeking ordination to the vocational diaconate. All three are in the second year of
study in local formation
The local formation program for both priests and deacons in the diocese is the Diocese of Northwest
Texas School of Ordained Ministry (SOM). The three-year formation program uses curricula from the
Iona Initiative, a collaboration of the Seminary of the Southwest and a growing number of dioceses
around the country. Canon Mike Ehmer represents Northwest Texas on the Iona Initiative Task Force.
The curriculum is based upon the Diocese of Texas’ in-residence Iona School for Ministry. In 2016 six
students became the first graduates of the SOM program in the diocese.
The Rev. Melissa Wafer-Cross, Deacon, St. Christopher’s, Lubbock, is dean of the school. The academic
mentors for 2016-2017 are the Rev. Jim Haney V, Rector, St. Paul’s, Lubbock and the Rev. David
Huxley, Rector, St. Nicholas, Midland. A new class is schedule to begin in the fall of 2017.
Elizabeth Thames, Secretary
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Report of the Episcopal Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officer
Diocese of Northwest Texas Annual Convention 2016
The Reverend J. Edson Way, Ph.D.
Priest-in-Charge, Saint Mary the Virgin, Big Spring, Texas
As reported earlier this year in the Diocesan Newsletter, in February, 2016, in response to the
rising level of Islamophobic rhetoric current in the national media, eighteen religious leaders
from across the faith spectrum of Lubbock representing several Protestant denominations,
Roman Catholics, and the Jewish community, attended a service of welcome and support at the
Islamic Center of the South Plains Mosque in Lubbock on Friday the 12th of February. Standing
in front of the assembled congregation at the mosque, each of us gave our name, religious
affiliation, and said a few words of solidarity in support of our Muslim neighbors in Lubbock
and our assurance that we appreciated their presence among us. As I stood there waiting my turn
I could see an elderly man (probably my age) still kneeling on the prayer carpet with tears
coursing down his wrinkled cheeks. It was very moving to see his reaction. After the service
several members of the mosque came to shake hands and thank us for the reassurance thus
offered. As fellow Children of Abraham and People of the Book, we recognized in each other
the desire for mutual respect and tolerance to live together in this place in peace.
The National Workshop on Christian Unity 2016 was held April 18th to 21st at the Galt House
Hotel in central Louisville, Kentucky. The theme, “Christian Unity May Be Closer Than You
Think” was inspired in part by Thomas Merton’s epiphany which is inscribed on a historical
marker in that city:
“In Louisville, at the corner of Fourth and Walnut, in the center of the shopping district, I was
suddenly overwhelmed with the realization that I loved all those people, that they were mine and
I theirs, that we could not be alien to one another even though we were total strangers. It was
like waking from a dream of separateness, of spurious self-isolation in a special world, the world
of renunciation and supposed holiness…”
Merton, the famous monk at the nearby Trappist Monastery at Gethsemane, was the subject of
two workshops over the course of the four days and a special exhibition at the History Museum
in Louisville to commemorate the centennial of Merton’s birth in 1916.
The first keynote address was delivered by Walter Grazer who currently teaches at Georgetown
University entitled, “Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor: Context and Significance of Pope
Francis’ Environmental Encyclical.”
Other seminars included “Pastoral Counseling and Ministry in a Multi-Faith Context,” “From
Dialog to Declaration: Catholics and Lutherans Look for Next Steps ‘On the Way’”, “Being an
Ecumenical/Interreligious Officer with the Francis Effect”, and “Pope Francis: Opening the
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Circle.” As is clear from this selection of seminar topics, the atmosphere in ecumenical dialog
between Protestants and Catholics has undergone a sea change in the past two years since Pope
Francis has introduced his more generous touch in such dialog. After a season of chilling in
ecumenical discourse under Pope Benedict as I have reported in past years, there is a new feeling
of optimism, especially among Catholic participants at the National Workshop on Christian
Unity, that the way forward may be more accessible and productive over the coming years and
that ecumenical discourse may be more than an intellectual exercise practiced by like-minded
individuals drawn from across the range of Christian belief and tradition.
This is an exciting time to be the Ecumenical/Interreligious Officer in our Diocese. The
Lubbock Interfaith Alliance continues to host discussions in this city. The Hindu Community in
Lubbock has recently realized its 20-year dream of having its own temple. The Mar Thoma
community continues to thrive here. Finally, the presence of Pope Francis on the international
scene and his willingness to participate in open conversation with the leaders of the Orthodox
Churches and Anglican Communion indicates that our prayer may be answered, “that we all may
be one.”
Respectfully submitted,
Edson+
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Minutes of ECW Diocese of NW Texas
August 27, 2016
Christ the King Retreat Center
The meeting was called to order at 3:30 by Jo Ann Rachele. Jackie Meeks was introduced, the
Province 7 Representative to the National ECW Board. She reported on the following:
Triennial in Austin in 2018
ECW’s focus on Social Justice
The Communique of ECW can be received by mail or email by subscribing
ecwnational.org.
A Memorial Scholarship Fund Has been set up at National level. Donations to
National can be earmarked to the Scholarship Trust Fund.
Paula Howbert expressed her concern that presently we are operating without a budget or
without elected officers. Because of the lack of participation in leadership roles, she and Jo Ann
suggested we change our format to a committee or council based leadership, with its primary
emphasis to be hosting a women’s retreat. The motion was made to change our formation to that
of a committee which would consist of a chairman, communicator, treasure, UTO chairman and
at large members for a total of 7-9 members. Terry Jollifee seconded and the motion passed.
Positions were filled for a 1 year term: Chairman - Nancy McReynolds, Communicator – Jo
Ann Rachele, Treasurer – Paula Howbert, UTO Chairman – Cindy Olive, and at large members
Claire Randolf of Lubbock, Mary Williams of Midland, and Mary Darby of San Angelo. The
committee system will be presented to Bishop Mayer for his approval. Jo Ann will ask
permission of the Executive Council to have our chairman represent us rather than a president.
Nancy will represent ECW at the diocesan convention and each member will be encouraged to
reach out to their area churches in order to keep the communications open. The committee will
try and get contacts for churches women’s ministry. A meeting of the committee will be held
once approved.
Paula presented the financials from 2014 to present, copies attached. The last passed was 2014.
Income for 2015 was $1,708.80. A copy of the apportionments was passed out, copy attached.
Expenditures for 2015 were for Triennial and Province 7 meetings. These expenses were taken
from the reserves as well as a reimbursement from the Diocese Triennial Delegate Fund. Other
expenses included the Presidents expense and bank fees as well as $1000 to reserve the retreat
center. The retreat didn’t make in 2015 thus the deposit was carried over to 2016. Paula
motioned approval of $1500 for the Women’s conference for 2016, Nancy McReynolds
seconded and the motion passed. Paula moved that the Companion Diocese Delegate fund in
reserves in the amount of $300 be donated to the Diocese of the Dominican Republic’s
endowment fund. Nancy Stewart seconded and the motion passed. Paula also noted there is
$450 in reserves for the Christian Social Relations and will forward that on to national. Nancy
McReynolds motioned that we continue to support the Triennial Delegated Fund Fair Share in
the amount of $200.00. Terry seconded and the motion passed. Presently there is no need of a
fair share at the province level so no expenditures will be made. No expenditures will be made
to the Reserves until the committee meets and finances discussed.
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Jo Ann announced the next retreat was scheduled June 2-4, 2017 at Christ the King with Rev.
Mary Earle being our speaker. Jo Ann will let us know possible topics to pick from. The retreat
center is also available in June or August of 2018. The group voted on the August 3-5 dates
unless it is decided by the committee to move the retreat to various locations in the Diocese.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:40 p.m.
Respectively submitted,
Paula Howbert
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Coordinator Annual Report to the Diocese
The Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas
EfM Coordinator: Dr. Richard D. Partney
The EFM Program
The EfM Program is a four-year adult education program sponsored by the Diocese, not to be confused with the NWT
Diocesan School of Ministry. It is administered and accredited by The Theological Seminary at the University of the
South in Sewanee, Tennessee. The course covers the Old and New Testaments, Church History, and Theology as well as
Theological Reflection. The seminar style classes are usually held once a week for two to three hours with students at all
levels sharing their experiences with the readings, exercises, and reflections. The students and graduates experience a
maturation of their ministry through the program and become confident leaders in their parishes. Sponsorship by the
Diocese under EfM’s minimum service contract allows for two Mentor Training events annually and reduced tuition for
students.
This year we recognize seven new graduates from three reporting parishes. Ted Kerr from First Presbyterian in Midland
(J’Lynn Wheeler, Bridget Hyde, and Terry Jolliffe, Co-Mentors); Christine Ann DesRoisers, G. Lea Faulks, Carrie N.
Harvell, and Jeri Lynn Stockton from St. Mary’s in Big Spring (Lyndel Moody and Charla Lewis, Co-Mentors); Leesa
Wood-Calvi and Martha Russell from St. Andrew's (Martha Russell and Richard Partney, Co-Mentors ) have all
completed the four years of theology by extension and received their certificates.
Year 2015-2016
Thanks to Diocesan support, reduced tuition for 2015-2016 amounts to $5,500. In 2016-2017, there are 60 community
members meeting in five groups in the diocese, with eleven mentors and co-mentors, a participant growth over last year.
These groups include:
* Heavenly Rest - Abilene (Rev. Amanda Watson, Tom Watson, Co-Mentors) - 8 in community
* St. Andrew's - Amarillo (Martha Russell, Richard Partney, Co-Mentors) - 2 groups, 26 in community
* St. Mary's - Big Spring (Lyndel Moody, Charla Lewis, Co-Mentors) - rebuilding
* St. Stephen's - Lubbock (Fr. David Purdue, Dr. Kelly Trlica, Co-Mentors) 13 in community
Terry Jolliffe [Holy Trinity], Co-Mentors) - 13 in community
Year 2016-2017 Plans
1. Create EfM articles for NWT Diocesan website and an EfM Facebook page.
2. Try to visit EfM Mentors throughout the year at their home parish to ascertain needs, concerns and to develop and
encourage collegial rapport for communications and cooperation.
3. Assist in recruiting new EfM students as requested and to assist selection of Mentors as needed.
4. Prepare an EfM display for the 2017 Diocesan Convention.
5. Work with Deacon Dana Wilson, Diocesan Coordinator for the Fort Worth Diocese, to offer cooperative training
events throughout the year.
6. Having completed on-line training, begin recruiting participants to serve NWT Diocese Missions and Parishes in
communities without EfM groups.
Page 84
Report Ministry to Retired Clergy and Spouses
The Rev. William B. Wright and Mrs. Patricia L. Wright, Chaplains
My wife Pat and I have been honored to serve as Chaplains to Retired Clergy and Spouses
of Retired Clergy in the Diocese of Northwest Texas through 2016. Our retired clergy and
spouses include those who are on the Church Pension Fund as retirees as well as those who
are not part of the Pension Fund. During this year we have had 109 people included in our
family of retired clergy and spouses. They include retired clergy who are either canonically
resident and living in our diocese or in other dioceses as well as others who are canonically
resident in other dioceses but living in our diocese.
A number of our retired clergy function in local congregations and are able to share their
experience and wisdom through presence, supply work and teaching.
It is with real sorrow that we have to report that nine people among our retired community
have died since our last diocesan convention. They are: six clergy – Janice Byrd, Leslie
Gregory, Chuck McIntyre, Roland Rose, Harriett Ann Purkeypile Wilkins, and John
Watson and three spouses – Cynthia Creswell, Edith Rose Hungerford and Carolyn
Schley. “Give rest, O Christ, to your servants with your saints, where sorrow and pain are
no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.”
We have enjoyed working with the retired community of our diocese and have been able
to keep in touch through letters, phone calls, visits and e-mails. We have a strong family
of retired clergy and spouses who continue to offer their wisdom and experience to the
work of the church.
Pat and I were able to attend a conference for retired clergy and spouses in the Diocese of
Texas as well as a conference for Chaplains to Retired Clergy and Spouses in Vancouver,
Washington. Both conferences were in April and both offered resources for the retired and
for ministry to retirees. The Church Pension Group will be sponsoring a conference on
Enriching Your Retirement for retired clergy and spouses of our diocese during the week
of October 30, 2017. We hope our retirees will set aside this week to be with us for this
conference. We will let them know as soon as the exact dates are available. We expect to
have two conferences during that week.
Please feel free to contact Pat or me with any concerns, ideas or questions so that the
ministry to the retirees of our diocese can be strengthened and serve them. Our retirees
represent a real treasure of experience and wisdom.
Bill Wright 325-340-6204
Pat Wright 325-947-0868
Page 85
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH
2015-2016 REPORT TO THE DIOCESE OF NORTHWEST TEXAS
College of Arts & Sciences
Enrollment from the Diocese of Northwest Texas: 3 students total (2 report Episcopal heritage)
Financial aid awarded to all college students from the Diocese of Northwest Texas: $15,150.00
The School of Theology
Seminary
Enrollment from the Diocese of Northwest Texas: 1 student total
The Beecken Center
Education for Ministry (EfM) Groups: 5
EfM Diocesan Coordinator: Dr. Richard Dale Partney
Support Received from the Diocese of Northwest Texas: $1,000
Support Received from the Diocese of Northwest Texas churches: $815
About Sewanee
The University of the South is home to an outstanding liberal arts college, a School of Letters,
and a School of Theology. Located atop the Cumberland Plateau between Nashville and
Chattanooga, Tennessee, Sewanee's 13,000-acre campus, the second largest campus in the
United States, provides vast opportunities for research, recreation, and reflection. Within the
traditionally strong curriculum of humanities, sciences, and graduate theological studies,
Sewanee faculty members promote intellectual growth, critical thinking, and hands-on research.
The University's Board of Trustees is composed of the bishops of the 28 owning dioceses,
together with clergy and lay representatives elected by each diocese and representatives of other
University constituencies. The Board of Regents, to which the Board of Trustees delegates some
of its responsibilities for governance, is composed of Episcopal bishops, priests, and lay people,
and may include a limited number of members of other Christian bodies. The chancellor of the
University, elected by the Board of Trustees, is a bishop from one of the 28 owning dioceses.
An Episcopal Center of Learning
The University of the South is an institution of the Episcopal Church dedicated to the pursuit of
knowledge, understanding, and wisdom in close community and in full freedom of inquiry, and
enlightened by Christian faith in the Anglican tradition, welcoming individuals from all
backgrounds, to the end that students be prepared to search for truth, seek justice, preserve
liberty under law, and serve God and humanity.
The University was founded by church leaders from the southeastern United States in 1857 and
is the only university in the nation that is owned and governed by dioceses of The Episcopal
Church, specifically the 28 dioceses that are successors to the original founding dioceses. The
historic ownership and governance of the University by these Episcopal dioceses has produced a
living synergy of leadership, resource, and mutual support, enriching the Church and advancing
the University’s role in American higher education.
Page 86
2015–2016 Statistics for the University of the South
College of Arts and Sciences total students: 1,710
Class of 2019: SAT combined: 1730-1960 ACT: 26-30
High School GPA: 3.66/4.0
College tuition and fees: $ 38,428
College faculty: Full-Time: 150 Part-Time: 56
Student/faculty ratio: 10:1
School of Theology students: 156 (includes summer students)
School of Theology full-time tuition and fees: $ 16,106
School of Theology faculty: Full-Time: 10 Part-Time: 7
Student/faculty ratio: 5:1
University Fiscal Year July 1, 2015–June 30, 2016 (unaudited)
Endowment: $378 million
2015–2016 Highlights from the University of the South
Details and more news may be found by visiting: sewanee.edu/newstoday/ and
theology.sewanee.edu/seminary/media/news/
Sewanee defined as place of global orientation; July 16, 2015
University welcomes the Class of 2019; August 19, 2015
Fulford Hall will continue to stand on Sewanee’s campus; August 25, 2015
Sewanee faculty ranked among the best; September 9, 2015
Ryan Mails receives Freeman Award for Merit; October 5, 2015
Osborne receives the 2015 Woods Leadership Award; October 27, 2015
Jon Meacham, C’91, regales Sewanee audience with tales of politics and history;
November 23, 2015
Lilly endowment supports high school students’ faith exploration; December 7, 2015
Planning for “phase one” of the Commons given the go-ahead; February 11, 2016
Sewanee car will race at Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend; February 25, 2016
Sewanee celebrates sesquicentennial of its second founding; March 24, 2016
Reconciliation service raises awareness and creates conversation; April 21, 2016
University names Geoffrey Ward organist and choirmaster of All Saints’ Chapel; April
25, 2016
Commencement weekend events continue; Charlie Rose and Jon Meacham present “The
Art of Conversation”; May 7, 2016
School of Theology commencement graduates 41 students and confers three honorary
degrees; May 9, 2016
School of Theology adds two new faculty: Kenneth Miller, instructor in Church music;
and Romulus Stefanut, theological librarian; July 1, 2016
Page 87
Bishop’s Report - 2015
Postulants Admitted 5/15/15 Alvin Dale Stofel, St. Christopher’s, Lubbock, Diaconate 5/15/16 Sara Leann Wigner, St. Stephen’s, Lubbock, Priesthood 6/18/15 Erin Courtney Jones, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo, Diaconate 6/15/15 Justin Thomas Gibson, St. James’, Dalhart, Priesthood
Candidates Admitted 4/15/15 Douglas Paul Thomas, Church of the Heavenly Rest, Abilene, Priesthood 4/15/15 James Arvie Walker, St. Luke’s, Levelland, Priesthood 6/8/15 Dave Edward Blakley, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo, Diaconate 6/8/15 Thomas Aaron Keith, Grace Church, Vernon, Priesthood 6/8/15 Mildred Susan Rugger, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo, Diaconate 6/8/15 Jill Ann Walters, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo, Priesthood 11/5/15 Christian Robert Rabone, St. Paul’s, Lubbock, Priesthood
Clergy Received by Letters Dimissory or Ordination 6/16/15 Claire Meadows Cowden, ordination to the priesthood, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo 7/1/15 Eric Nathan Mancil received from the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast 10/10/15 David Patrick Galletly received from the Diocese of Los Angeles 12/12/15 Thomas Aaron Keith ordination to the transitional diaconate, Church of the Heavenly Rest,
Abilene 12/12/15 Douglas Paul Thomas ordination to the transitional diaconate, Church of the Heavenly
Rest, Abilene 12/12/15 James Arvie Walker, ordination to the transitional diaconate, Church of the Heavenly Rest,
Abilene 12/12/15 Jill Ann Walters ordination to the transitional diaconate, Church of the Heavenly Rest,
Abilene
Clergy Transferred by Letters Dimissory 12/7/15 David Felton Romanik to the Diocese of Pennsylvania
Clergy Removed 3/30/15 Dennis Vaughn Bosley by renunciation of orders
Page 88
Bishop's 2015 Report of Visitations and Discretionary Fund
12/31/14 Ending Balance $ 17,237.32
2014 Funds deposited in 2015 $ 1,585.00
Date Visitations Offering Confirmed Received Baptized
1/7/15 Abilene, Heavenly Rest $ 191.00 8 1 0
1/18/15 Albany, Trinity $ 348.00
1/25/15 Coleman, St. Mark’s $ 160.00
2/1/15 Odessa, St. Barnabas’ $ 566.00 1 2 0
2/15/15 Big Spring, St. Mary’s $ 628.00
2/22/15 Abilene, St. Marks’ $ 33.00
3/8/15 Lubbock, St. Paul’s $ 345.00 7 0 0
3/22/15 Odessa, San Miguel Arcangel $ - 19 0 0
3/29/15 Colorado City, All Saints’ $ -
4/19/15 Amarillo, St. Peter’s $ 80.00 3 2 1
4/26/15 Brownfield, Good Shepherd $ 100.00
5/10/15 Abilene, Heavenly Rest $ 360.00 14 2 0
5/17/15 Canyon, St. Georges $ 206.00
5/31/15 Amarillo, St. Andrew’s $ 417.00 7 2 1
6/1/15 Vernon, Grace $ 57.00
6/14/15 Borger, St. Peter’s $ 100.00
8/30/15 Perryton, All Saints’ $ 407.00 1 0 0
9/13/15 Odessa, St. John's $ 562.00
9/27/15 Lubbock, St. Christopher's $ 96.25
10/11/15 Levelland, St. Luke’s $ -
11/22/15 Clarendon, St. John the Baptist $ -
12/6/15 Midland, St. Nicholas' $ 2,105.25 12/13/15 San Angelo, Emmanuel $ 545.00 8 0 0