Wichita Falls parishes host May Executive Council Meeting

Bishop Ohl is fond of recalling that when he was rector of a Colorado Springs parish, he often referred to his bishop as "The Bishop of Denver." He perceived that little happened outside the See City of the Diocese of Colorado.

Responding to that lead, the vestry of All Saints', Wichita Falls, invited the Executive Council to gather for its May meeting at the ARC, Wichita County's facility for handicapped people where All Saints' worships. Leadership at St. Stephen's, further west in the city, promptly joined the effort. The trip up the road to the northwest corner of the diocese gave metroplex members a new appreciation of the sacrifices people in the corners of the diocese make regularly to share in the governance of the church. Members of in tact parishes also got a chance to see how congregations unable to worship in their buildings adjust to present reality.

All Saints' senior warden Dr. Owanah Anderson said, "We are delighted to share the host role with St. Stephen's. And since Good Shepherd worships with St. Stephen's these days, that means all three parishes have joined hands as we have often done in the past." Laurie Cruse and J.D. Todd from All Saints' are members of the Council, as are Brent Walker and the Very Rev. John Payne, senior warden and vicar at St. Stephen's.

Council members found the ARC's large working area set up for the meeting and enjoyed pastries, fruit, juice, and coffee served by members of both congregations. A lunch of sandwiches and sides broke up the day; and at the meeting's end, those who didn't bolt for points distant got to see the bishop of the diocese hauling tables and chairs about along with everybody else.

The Council's agenda included big chunks of the ongoing work of reorganization. Fr. Jim Hazel, policy committee chair, reviewed the rewriting of diocesan policies in many areas of the church's common life. Diocesan Ministry Development Officer Demi Prentiss covered new initiatives in reestablishing the Episcopal Church's work among students on several university campuses throughout the diocese. Floyd McKneely (St. Stephen's, Hurst) and Robert Hicks (St. Christopher's, Fort Worth) outlined the newly developed budgeting process and laid groundwork for a reliable, participatory, and transparent financial environment. Members also heard the bishop's report—including news of new missionary cooperations with the Niobrara Convocation (work among native Americans) and the Diocese of Northern Mexico and the appointment of a committee to undertake the long delayed listening process mandated years ago by General Convention.

The Executive Council is the interim governing body of the diocese and acts at the direction and with the authority of the diocesan convention. Members are elected at deanery meetings and serve limited terms.

The Executive Council will meet next in September at St. Luke's in the Meadow, Fort Worth. Meetings are open to anyone in the diocese.

Photos of the meeting, courtesy of Michael Shuff of St. Stephen's, and Laurie Cruse and Anne Marie Williamson of All Saints' are available here.