Council 2010 Blog

Qualifications – Steve is very organized and energetic with an ability to see the larger picture.  He has worked in the corporate world before at MCI and AT&T managing global account teams and millions of dollars before becoming a priest so I feel he has a good feel for budgets and the board setting.  Steve is dedicated to the mission of the Diocese and has a willingness to put in the extra efforts to see it through when needed.

Local Church Activities – Assistant Rector, World Religions teacher at St. James Episcopal School, World Mission-India, Coastal Bridges (out of poverty) Steering Committee

Diocesan Activities – World Missions, Happening Committees

Length of time in Diocese – 2 years

Nominated by – Kelley Kimble and the Rev. Chris Roque

Qualifications – Faith comes with an ability to listen and hear multiple stories, a heart for compassion, and hope for the church.

Local Church Activities – Rector; prior to ordination in 2002, Faith served as a vestry member, Eucharist Minister, Pastoral Care Coordinator, EFM mentor, Council delegate, teacher and musician.

Diocesan Activities – Faith has served the diocese as a member of the Nominating Committee; the Continuing Education Committee; Camp Capers and Mustang Island Family Camp Chaplain; Reconciliation Committee Supporter and retreat leader.

Length of time in Diocese – 7 years

Nominated by – Nominating Committee

organized; responsible; strong leader; experienced in business administration

Local Church Activities – Priest; Sunday school teacher; Vestry; School Chapel

Diocesan Activities – Involved in planning and implementing Diocesan Council in 2009

Length of time in Diocese – 1 ½ years

Nominated by – The Rev. John Badders

Qualifications – In his sixteenth year of ordained ministry, Father Mahan has served congregations in both urban and rural settings, large and small.  Biblically and sacramentally grounded, he strongly supports the direction and guidance of the leadership of the Diocese of West Texas.  He brings gifts of patient counsel and a listening ear, before making any statement or decision that may have wider ramifications.

Local Church Activities – Rector, St. Matthew’s Church and School, Edinburg

Diocesan Activities – Dean of the Rio Grande Valley Convocation; Mustang Island Conference Center Program Committee; Chaplain Camp Capers; Chaplain Mustang Island Family Camp; Cursillo Spiritual Director; Reconciliation Commission participant.

Length of time in Diocese – 4 years

Nominated by – Vestry member at St. Matthew’s

Qualifications – Leadership; bi-cultural; a missionary spirit

Local Church Activities – Pastor; mission; teacher

Diocesan Activities – Evangelism Committee; Continuing Ed Committee; Spiritual Director – Happening/Mustang Island Family Camp; missions to Honduras, Argentina, India.

Length of time in Diocese – 15 years

Nominated by – The Rev. Richard Speer

Qualifications – Perspective of 30 year old – the ones we are trying to reach; great creativity; excellent communicator; passionate about ministry.

Local Church Activities – Leads Adult Ed program; leads ministry to young adults and families

Diocesan Activities – Dean/Chaplain Camp Capers; music leader at diocesan events.

Length of time in Diocese – 30 years

Nominated by – The Rev. Robert Woody

Qualifications – Servant leadership; some of the modicum of success Our Saviour now enjoys can be attributed to leadership decisions Kathreen made as Bishop’s Warden in 2001 and 2002.

Local Church Activities – Bishop’s Committee; Eucharistic Minister; Council delegate; Parish Representative to the Board of the resale shop and Tri-County Christian Services.

Length of time in Diocese – 44 years – Diocese; 10 years – Parish

Nominated by – Bishop’s Committee, Our Saviour

Qualifications – Esther is a passionate Christian woman who both prays and gets things done.  Her gifts are servant leadership, encouragement and administration.  Esther has a heart to serve Jesus and the ability to work with people of varying views in a positive way.

Local Church Activities – Lay Eucharistic Minister; Vestry clerk, volunteer Secretary and Newsletter Editor; Cursillo; Council delegate

Diocesan Activities – Christian Ed Committee; Cursillo Secretariat; Coordinator of National Cursillo Conference in October; in the past served as Deputy to General Convention, member of the Standing Committee and member of the Executive Board

Length of time in Diocese – 55 years

Nominated by – The Rev. Randy Melton

Qualifications – Administrative; creative thinker; strategic – able to see and formulate a variety of strategies related to an issue.

Local Church Activities – Vestry, Senior Warden, Lay Reader, Sunday School Teacher (adult and youth), Organist, Council Delegate, School Board member (public and church).

Diocesan Activities – Alternate Deputy for Church Synod; Council delegate on numerous occasions.

Length of time in Diocese – 15 years

Nominated by – The Rev. Mike Marsh

Qualifications – Broad administrative experience; leadership; man of God.

Local Church Activities – Vestry, Discernment Committee, Stewardship Committee, Finance Committee, Usher, Senior Warden.

Diocesan Activities – Mustang Island Conference Committee

Length of time in Diocese – 15+ years

Nominated by – John Otto and the Rev. Sandy Casey-Martus

Qualifications – Over 40 years involvement in mission and ministry in the Diocese of West Texas; major event planning and execution; deep faith and commitment to inclusivity and hospitality; extensive experience in church operations at parish, diocesan and national levels.

Local Church Activities – Lay Eucharist Minister; Senior Warden; Vestry; Council Delegate; Strategic Planning Chair; EFM graduate; Hospitality Committee; Co-coordinator and Design Team Chair of LifeStreams (Rite III Service); Music leader; Christian Ed Chair; Co-Chair – Diocesan Council for host parish

Diocesan Activities – Diocesan Refugee coordinator, founder – CARMN (Central American Refugee Ministry Network) – a national church project; Co-founder – Episcopal Youth for Social Action; Team Member – Cursillo, Happening, Vocare

Length of time in Diocese – 45 years

Nominated by – John Otto and the Rev. Sandy Casey-Martus

Kim Dozier – Trinity Church, Pharr

Qualifications – Kim has good leadership abilities.  She has a desire to serve her Lord Jesus.  Kim has a background in management for a large company.

Local Church Activities – She is an active leader for the local Daughters of the King chapter.  She serves as a Lay Eucharistic Minister, usher and over- sees the parish Sunday School.  Kim leads a group of parishioners who do missionary work at Mabel’s Free Clinic in Progreso, Mexico.  Kim is involved with the Good Samaritan Community Service initiative in the Rio Grande Valley and serves as a youth specialist for the after school program in Pharr.

Length of time in Diocese – 3 years

Nominated by – The Rev. Scott Penrod

Qualifications – Sara has been a strong leader within the parish of St. Andrew’s.  She has served on the Vestry and is an active leader of the Christian formation programs as well as in other programs of the Church.  She is highly motivated and interested in the operations of the Diocese and has served as a council delegate several times.  She has the knowledge and judgment to make a highly effective Executive Board member.

Local Church Activities – Vestry (2 terms); Search Committee; Council Delegate 2004-2009; Long Range Planning Committee; Coordinator of Children’s Ministries; Editor of church newsletter “The Call” (4 years); Communications Coordinator for 40 Days of Purpose Campaign; Finance Committee; St. Andrew’s  Core Values Workshop Facilitator; Sunday School Teacher; Children’s Chapel Coordinator

Diocesan Activities – Council Delegate 2004-2009

Length of time in Diocese – 35 years

Nominated by – Gil Merkle

Qualifications – As an Oblate in the Order of Julian of Norwich and a Daughter of the King, Susan takes seriously her vows of prayer and service.  As a long time member of St. Alban’s and the Diocese of West Texas, she is dependable, knowledgeable and most of all faithful.  Her experience on local, diocesan and national organizations within the Church make her a strong match for the Executive Board.  Susan has an MA in Christian Spirituality from the General Seminary in New York.

Local Church Activities – Former Vestry member; former School Board member, former Alternate Deputy for General Convention.  Currently serving on the Altar Guild, DOK, Lay Eucharistic Minister, Lay Eucharist Visitor, Lay Reader, Council delegate.

Diocesan Activities – Previously served two terms on Executive Board, Former President of Women’s Cabinet.  Current member of the Commission of Women’s Ministry and member of the Historical Commission.  Nationally – Current President of Episcopal Women’s History Project; Director of Operations for the Historical Society of the Episcopal Church; former member of the ECW National Board.

Length of time in Diocese – 38 years

Nominated by – The Rev. Scott Brown and the Vestry of St. Alban’s

Qualifications – Cash is committed to the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of West Texas.  Demonstrated leadership; understanding of the larger Church; analytical thinker; dependable; prayerful and growing in his spiritual life.

Local Church Activities – Vestry member; Junior Warden; Lay Reader; Chalice Bearer; youth mentor/leader.

Diocesan Activities – Delegate to Council

Length of time in Diocese – 3 ½ years

Nominated by – The Rev. Mike Marsh

brings 40 years of business management including five terms as CEO of different companies.  He is an active participant in the Church at the laity level in his parish and at the Diocese of West Texas.  He is willing to put in the time and effort necessary to work closely with our Bishops and is willing to undertake any assignments needed to perform the business of the Executive Board.  Thompson’s business experience, coupled with years of pastoral care and lay ministry will provide insight into both financial/management issues and congregational/clergy needs throughout the Diocese.  Having worked closely with most of the diocesan staff and many parish staff and Clergy during his work in Disaster Relief, he will come into the committee with background and knowledge that will allow him to become a functioning member almost immediately.  Lastly, we cannot forget his “immeasurable” help at the Bishop’s Golf Tournaments for the past several years, many would have ended their rounds with more money in their pockets and less in the tournament coffers.

Local Church Activities – Bob has been at St. Andrew’s, Seguin where he served under the Rev. Mike Chalk as a Lay Reader, a Licensed Eucharistic Minister and as the Director of Acolytes.  At his current parish, St. Thomas, he serves as a Pastoral Lay Eucharistic Visitor, Lay Eucharistic Minister, and member of the Outreach and World Missions committees.  He is a founding member of the St. Thomas Chapter of the Order of St. Luke the Physician and serves as a healing team leader on alternate Sundays.  He has been a regular participant in serving the Eucharist at Independence Hill (assisted living) and feeding the homeless at St. Vincent de Paul.  Thompson oversees scheduling of the Pastoral Lay Eucharistic Visitors and those who serve at Independence Hill.  He is a 2^nd year student in EFM, a four year class of study in lay ministry.  He also participates in projects to raise money for world missions and other needs as identified.

Diocesan Activities – Bob has been a member of the World Missions Committee for several years.  In 2008, he served as the Diocesan Emergency Coordinator, representing the Diocese at state, regional and local levels during the busy hurricane season that year.  As Chair of the Disaster Relief Task Force, he undertook publishing the Diocese Disaster Relief Handbook and resource guide in CD-ROM format so that copies could be printed at every congregation as needed.  The handbook was also updated and published on the Diocesan website.  He was a delegate to Diocesan Councils in 2007, 2008 and 2009.  He has also served on the Arts Festival Committee in 2007 and 2009 and exhibited in both festivals.

Length of time in Diocese – 32 years

Nominated by – The Rev. Chuck Woehler and Vestry of St. Thomas

Qualifications – Robin has a deep love of the Episcopal Church and a solid understanding of how Diocesan ministry supports and strengthens the local parish.  She understands issues of mission and evangelism, stewardship, insurance, and other aspects of parish and diocesan inner workings.  She is active in the local community and has served as a board member and volunteer in support of numerous nonprofit groups.

Local Church Activities – Robin has served on the Vestry at Church of Redeemer, Eagle Pass; Christ Church, Laredo; St. Andrew’s, Seguin; Senior Warden, Vestry clerk, Stewardship Chair, Lay Reader, Eucharistic Minister, Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School leader, Camp Capers counselor/art, Altar Guild, and search committee member.   She has organized parish outreach activities and events to bring the art community and the parish together.

Diocesan Activities – Council delegate 7 times and has served on the Bishop’s Disaster Response Committee.

Length of time in Diocese – 7+ years

Nominated by – The Rev. Paul Frey

Qualifications – She is committed to prayer and working to make a stronger Diocese; has good leadership and organizational skills; has an understanding of what is going on in the Diocese and when/where she doesn’t understand she is eager to listen and learn.

Local Church Activities – LEM; prayer team; council delegate; family ministry; Sunday School teacher, VBS director, Altar Guild

Diocesan Activities – Has served on the Executive Board for two terms (6 years); Diocesan Altar Guild; Evangelism Department; Christian Education Department.

Length of time in Diocese – 61 years

Nominated by – Marilynne Herbster