March 5, 2025

121st Council of the Diocese of West Texas

“Here Am I. Send Me.”

For the second consecutive year, the San Marcos Conference Center was the location for the 121st Diocese of West Texas Council. Frigid temperature did not deter attendance with approximately 800 Clergy, Council Delegates, Alternates, Guests, Exhibitors, and staff gathering to conduct Council business, listen to bishop addresses, ministry and guest speakers, worship, and share fellowship together. Commencing the afternoon of Thursday, February 20 and concluding at noon on Saturday, February 22, Council encompassed a full schedule with opportunities for applicable learnings for clergy and delegates to bring back to their churches.

The Rt. Rev. Dr. David G. Read, Bishop of West Texas convened Council, followed by a beautiful presentation of colors from the TMI Corp of Cadets and performance of the National Anthem, sung by cadet, Alayna Hilliard. Introductions by Bishop Read offered heartfelt thanks to the host churches, Holy Spirit, Dripping Springs and St. Elizabeth’s, Buda, recognizing the dedication and amazing work done to prepare for Council. Leading the host churches were rectors the Rev. Evan Hierholzer, Rector, Dripping Springs and the Rev. Mike Woods, Rector, St. Elizabeth’s Buda, and Co-Chairs, Sylva Kezar, Holy Spirit and Vanessa Westbrook, St. Elizabeth’s.

Following the introduction of the host churches, Bishop Read recognized new clergy, seminarians, and visiting and Diocese of West Texas bishops.

New Clergy: The Rev. Sharon Alexander, Rector, St. Matthew’s Edinburg and Trinity, Pharr; The Rev. Isaias Ginson, Rector, Advent, Brownsville; The Rev. Rachel Joiner, Curate, St. Marcos, San Antonio; and The Rev. Tanner Ambs, Curate, St. Luke’s, San Antonio.
Seminarians: Deepu George, Hector Torres Cruz, Meredith Rogers.
Visting Bishops: The Rt. Rev. Glenda Curry, Bishop of Alambama; The Rt. Rev. Ann Ritonia, Bishop Suffragan for Armed Forces and Federal Ministries, The Episcopal Church; and The Rt. Rev. Sue Briner, Bishop of the Southwestern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
West Texas Bishops: The Rt. Rev. James Folts, 8th Bishop; The Rt. Rev. Gary Lillibridge, 9th Bishop; The Rt. Rev. David M. Reed, 10th Bishop; and The Rt. Rev. Rayford High, Assistant Bishop, Retired.
Guest Speakers: Mr. Patrick Crump, CEO, Morningside Ministries; Rev. Canon Ellen Huber, Diocese of South Dakota; Dr. Adena Loston, St. Philip’s College; and Dr. Scott Bader-Saye, Dean and President, Seminary of the Southwest.

CELEBRATION OF A NEW MISSION AND PARISH
The first day of Council included a joyful celebration of St. Nicholas, Bulverde as a new mission and St. Andrew’s, Corpus Christ as a new parish.

The Rev. Mike Besson, Archdeacon of the Diocese of West Texas, introduced the Rev. Beth Wyndham and members of St. Nicholas as they processed to the stage, accompanied by a video that documented the milestones of the past five years leading up the church becoming a mission. Archdeacon Besson then moved for the Church Plant to be accepted as a Mission Church and the Council Delegation then approved resoundingly. Bishop Read then appointed those named as members of the first Bishop’s Committee of St. Nicholas Hill Country and Rev. Beth Wyndham as Vicar.

St. Andrew’s, Corpus Christi was then introduced as the newest Parish Church in the Diocese of West Texas. The Rev. Gerald Phelps and members of St. Andrew’s proceeded to the stage, where photos from services and events at St. Andrew’s were displayed. Bishop Read then affirmed that St. Andrew’s called Rev. Phelps as their Rector/Priest-in-Charge.

2025 DIOCESAN THEME
Bishop Read discussed the Theme for 2025, “Here Am I. Send Me.”, beginning with the recitation of Isaiah 6:1-8.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.” The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!”  (Isaiah 6: 1-8)

Recalling how Isiah answered God’s call, despite his sinfulness and feelings of unworthiness, Bishop Read then asked the Council delegation to discuss with someone other than a fellow church member, the following questions:

Isaiah has a vision of God’s glory and holiness filling the chamber and spilling over into the whole earth.  When have you been in a place that felt very holy to you?  Where was it?  Why was it so holy? 

After his sins are blotted out, Isaiah hears the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”  Have you ever felt the Lord was calling you to something?  To what?

Isaiah responds to the Lord’s call by answering, “Here am I.  Send me!”  What are the things that keep you from readily responding to God’s call?

COUNCIL IN ACTION
2025 Council in Action ministry partner, Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center (HCWC) Council in Action is an organization whose mission is to create an environment where violence and abuse are not tolerated in the communities we serve. The Center provides education, violence prevention services and crisis intervention to victims of family violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and child abuse. Holly Cunningham-Kaiser, Chief Development Officer at HCWC provided an overview of the programs and services offered at HCWC. Generosity overflowed with a large number of items from the HCWC Wishlist and $2,500 donated during Council.

PRESENTATIONS
Attendees were blessed and inspired as guest speakers shared how their diocese, congregations, and ministries are answering the call “Here Am I. Send Me.”

In addition to the presentations by guest speakers, Council attendees were also moved, and educated by presentations on TMI Episcopal, Episcopal Schools, St. Peter’s Kerrville Intentional Community of St. Francis and Clare, St. Philip’s College, College + Young Adult Ministries, Episcopal Church Foundation of West Texas Immigration and Refugee Ministries, Latino Ministries, Church Planting, The Diaconate in West Texas, Discipleship and Congregational Development, Small Church Ministry, Threads of Blessing, Camps & Conferences, Christian Formation and the Bishop's Youth Commission, Good Samaritan Community Services, and the Mental Health Commission.

EXHIBITS AND SIP ‘N SHOP
Always an anticipated event is the Thursday evening Sip ‘N Shop which provides Council attendees the opportunity to stop by all our exhibitor booths, enjoy great appetizers and beverages and have time to talk with fellow Diocese of West Texas friends. This year there were 65 exhibitors!

BISHOP'S LUNCHEON
‍Featured speaker at this year’s Bishop’s Luncheon was the Rt. Rev. Ann Curry, Bishop of Alabama who inspired attendees with examples of the work being done in their diocese to serve communities and show up in different ways say, “Here Am I. Send Me.”

WORKSHOPS
Clergy, delegates and guests had the opportunity to participate in two workshop sessions, all of which had great attendance and were well received.

Thursday Workshops
The workshops on Thursday grouped participants by church size and addressed opportunities and challenges unique to each group. Workshop leaders included: The Rt. Rev. Dr. David G. Read, Bishop of West Texas, The Rev. Angela Maria Cortinas, Bishop Suffragan-Elect of West Texas, The Rev. Mike Besson, Archdeacon of West Texas, and the Rev. Canon Leyla King, Canon for Mission in Small Congregations.

Friday Workshops
Council attendees had a wide variety of workshops to choose from for the Friday workshop sessions including:

Parish Day Schools: Whose School is it Anyway; Led by Mary Katherine Duffy, Deputy for Episcopal Schools

How Supporting a New Church can Revitalize Your Own; Led by the Church Planting Task Force.

Federal Ministries, Jesus on the Frontline; Led by The Rt. Rev. Ann Ritonia, Bishop Suffragan for Armed Forces and Federal Ministries, The Episcopal Church.

IONA School for Ministry: Discerning the Call, Led by The Rev. Dr. Nandra Perry, Director of the Iona Collaborative, and the Rev. John Badders, Dean of the West Texas Iona School for Ministry.

Ten Trade Secrets of Small Church Ministry, Part 2; Led by Rev. Canon Leyla King.

Making New Disciples and Making Disciples New; Led by the Rev. Eric Holloway, Associate Rector, St. Luke’s, San Antonio.

BISHOP’S ADDRESS
Bishop Read’s address evoked emotion and applause as he spoke about his past year as Bishop of the Diocese of West Texas and his vision for the future. He provided background on why “Here Am I. Send Me.” was chosen as the Council 2025 theme, stating “I chose this theme because of particular challenges the Diocese of West Texas is facing in these days. Nationwide, The Episcopal Church is beginning to experience a very real shortage of clergy.” Additionally, volunteerism is below pre-COVID levels with churches in need of Altar Guild Servers, Acolytes, Ushers, Sunday School Teachers, Bible Study Facilitators, Vestry Members, Outreach Leaders, Office Angels, and more. Bishop Read said “With these growing clergy and lay ministry shortages in mind, I chose our theme, “Here Am I. Send me.” I chose it to remind us that each one of us is called. Every person, in every pew, in every congregation, is called. Women and men; youth and children; middle aged and senior citizens; high school and college students - all are called. The Risen Lord is inviting each one of us to actively engage in the mission and ministry of reconciling all people and all creation to God.”

Bishop Read expressed how the diocese would be offering a series of Discovery Weekends for individuals to explore lay and ordained vocations; the permanent diaconate; the bi-vocational priesthood; church planting; parish ministries; and the path to ordination. In addition, the Diocese of West Texas is partnering with the Iona Collaborative to significantly expand the Iona School in West Texas. Currently, the Iona School is geared toward persons studying for the bi-vocational priesthood.

To raise up new leaders in West Texas, he asked that all committees and commissions of the diocese look seriously at creating their own term limits, stating “If we are going to be serious about raising up new leaders in West Texas, we will need to be intentional about creating systems where people serve a maximum of two, 3-year terms, and then take a break after helping to train new members and new leaders.”

Bishop Read then reviewed the role of the Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of West Texas and encouraged all to attend the Ordination and Consecration of Bishop-Elect, the Rev. Angela Maria Cortinas, scheduled for Saturday, March 15 at St. John’s in McAllen.

During the address, he recalled the joyous celebration at the beginning of Council of church plant, St. Nicholas, Bulverde, becoming a mission and urging congregations to be part of bringing more church plants to the diocese stating, “We plant churches because the great commission is not ‘the great suggestion.’ Jesus’ command to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, is still his great expectation of us.”

Bishop Read discussed the importance of revisiting the current Apportionment structure when looking at the investment of human and financial resources across the Diocese of West Texas and asking the following questions:

Is this current system sustainable – especially for our large churches?

How does the current formula assist or stifle growth?

How are other dioceses of similar size and resources funding their ministries?

He shared his belief that “The diocesan level structure exists first and foremost to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. Second, the diocesan level structure exists to support the congregations and institutions in West Texas so that they thrive. And third, the diocesan level structure exists to do ministries that are best done at that level, or ministries that are best done together.” Bishop Read announced that a task force would be formed in the next 30 days to study the apportionment formula and bring back recommendations at next year’s Council. Bishop Read then shared that he believes it is time to significantly expand the endowments which support the ministry of Camps and Conferences. The ministries which take place at Camp Capers, Mustang Island Conference Center, and Duncan Park are life-transforming ministries which cannot be sustained solely relying on apportionment funds from congregations.

“For those ministries to continue to flourish for decades to come, their endowments need to be expanded. Now hear me out: I am not looking to fully endow our camps so that the diocesan budget and our congregations no longer play a vital role or no longer have “skin in the game.” We will always fund these ministries through the diocesan budget. But an endowment of $10 million would provide income to continue to support these ministries and the maintenance of these sites for our grandchildren and great-grandchildren in addition to helping us reduce apportionments across the diocese.”

Bishop Read applauded the good work being done in the Small Church Ministry and the now the diocese of launching a pilot program to help small churches with bookkeeping and accounting needs.

He shared the reason for the recent closing of the Plaza de Paz Center, resulting from factors occurring over the past few years and how the Immigration and Refugee Ministries will continue to serve and do good work, adjusting and changing to meet the changing needs within the diocese. Stating that we are serving and doing ministry in strange and challenging times, he asked that we remember “Every one of us has vowed to respect the dignity of every human being” and that “There is no room for language that suggests all migrants are criminals, or lazy, or somehow sub-human. They are children of God. Citizens of God’s kingdom. Loved by Jesus their Lord. And we should have no tolerance in the Church for anything less than love.”

The conclusion of Bishop Read’s addresses included an expression of gratitude “I am the Bishop of West Texas” because I am proud of you. As I travel our diocese I see the work, and ministry, the generosity, the outreach and experimentation, the labors of love, and the challenges of our day. And I thank my God always for you. And I thank my God always for my wife, Jacqui.

He then implored the diocese to “Say bigger prayers.” Quoting Phillips Brooks, graduate of Virginia Theological Seminary and rector of Trinity Church in Boston who composed the words to the Christmas hymn, “O Little Town of Bethlehem, he shared “

Pray bigger prayers.” “Don’t pray for crutches – pray for wings.” “There is not one prayer you or I can pray that Jesus doesn’t wish was bigger. Pray bigger prayers, for the Diocese of West Texas, pray bigger prayers for your congregation, and pray bigger prayers for yourself. Pray bigger prayers, and stand up to say, “Here am I. Send Me.”

EUCHARIST
A beautiful Council Eucharist was held Friday evening. The liturgy was recited in English and Spanish, and musicians from St. Elizabeth's, Buda provided joyous and hormonic vocals and instrumentals.

The Eucharistic offering was designated for the Diocese of West Texas Camps and Conferences fund and received close to $9,000. This money goes towards camp scholarships, helping approximately one-third of campers attend a diocesan camp.

The Rev. Angela Maria Cortiñas, Bishop Suffragan-Elect delivered the sermon. Sharing memories from her childhood and her favorite childhood hymn, “Here I Am Lord. It is me Lord, she talked about her journey of becoming an Episcopal priest and answering God’s call – from being a single mom entering the priesthood to being called to be Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of West Texas.

Naming the ways in which God is present and showing up each and every day, Bishop-elect Cortinas related that God asks, invites, listens, urges, waits and nudges. She reiterated how even in uncertain challenging times, God shows up and our answer to his call is being shown in many ways such as new missions and parishes, church planting, and other ministries and initiatives.

Recalling how Isaiah responded to God’s call, Bishop-elect Cortiñas paralleled those times similar to our environment today – a call to God, mercy, kindness, and justice – both as a Church and a nation. Citing the disciple Paul in how to respond to this call, she shared, “We can’t do it alone. It will take all of us united, faithful, knitted in community, with all our gifts, pastors, teachers, apostles, lay and ordained, old and new, knitted together in love to equip the saints for the work of ministry and for building up the entire Body of Christ.”

She shared how as Christians we need to understand where our citizenship lies - “in the Kingdom of God and Body of Christ, in making Jesus the center of our life and asking, “What Would Jesus Have Me Do?”.

In closing, Rev. Cortiñas encouraged the diocese to remember their Baptismal Vows and to listen to God’s call and answer with “I have heard you calling me. I will go Lord if you need me.”

BISHOP SUFFRAGAN-ELECT ADDRESS
The Rev. Angela Maria Cortiñas provided her address on the morning of Saturday, February 22. She opened her address by inviting the diocese to her Consecration on Saturday, March 15 at St. John’s in McAllen, where Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe will be the Chief Consecrator. Giving thanks to the warm welcome she has received from the diocese, Rev. Cortiñas discussed the visits and work she has been doing since joining the Diocese of West Texas in January. She shared that she is looking forward to spending time with the people of West Texas, learning what ministries are being done in congregations, and determining how she can be of help. She expressed that getting to know and supporting clergy will be a priority – whether helping with a particular challenge or celebrating successes. Saying that we the best way to support her is simple, “Pray big and bigger prayers. Pray for me, pray for the people of this diocese, for the Church, for each other, pray for the nation. That we are all up to respond to the needs being laid out before us right now in this place. Pray that we can all respond with those words of Isaiah, “Here Am I. Send Me Lord.” See the full address here.

COUNCIL CLOSING
Bishop Read provided a summary of Council. First, he asked, “What will you do differently because you came to Council?” He then asked, how individuals and congregations will apply their learnings from Council workshops, presentations, and access to resources, stepping up to say, “Here Am I. Send Me.” Council attendees were encouraged to choose one or two initiatives, experiments, or ministries to facilitate change. Bishop Read concluded giving thanks for the love, support and prayers received during Council. A blessing was provided by Bishop Read and Council was adjourned.

ELECTION RESULTS ‍

The following were elected during the 121st Council:

Standing Committee ‍

Clergy:
The Rev. Ann Fraser
‍
Lay:
Mr. Brian Kates

‍Executive Board ‍

Clergy:
‍The Rev. Reagan Gonzalez
The Rev. Arnoldo Romero

Lay:
Mrs. Betty Mosty
Dr. Gene Dowdy
Ms. Samantha Gates
Mr. Greg Quisenberry

TMI Episcopal Board of Governors

Dr. Elizabeth Manning

Episcopal Corporation in West Texas Trustees

Clergy:
The Rev. Jason Roberts
‍
Lay:
Mr. Matthew Boutte

‍ Sewanee: The University of the South Trustees‍