Camp Capers is nestled on 188 acres in the Texas Hill Country, 40 miles northwest of San Antonio on the banks of the Guadalupe River. Camp Capers offers summer camp programming for youth 8 to 18 years of age. Sessions activities include kayaking, team building challenges, a high ropes course, crafts, Bible based teaching and devotional times, and more. Through God’s grace, Camp Capers is committed to offering fun, life-changing experiences to children and youth in a safe, Christian community.
Duncan Park is a mountaintop retreat center, located 20 miles west of Boulder, Colorado. Existing completely off-the-grid with solar panels providing electricity and potable water from its well, this facility captures the rugged beauty of the surrounding mountains, and allows for a true respite from the hustle and bustle of modern life. Duncan Park offers opportunities for people with a variety of ages and experience levels in sessions for high school youth, college students, and adults.
Happenings are spiritual renewal weekends for older high school students, led by their peers. The diocese sponsors three weekends each year in various locations and has sponsored over 145 weekends to date.
New Beginnings is a retreat for middle school students, led by adults and their peers. The diocese sponsors two weekends each year in various locations.
The Diocese of West Texas has 26 schools, which include stand-alone preschools, elementary and middle schools, and one middle/high school. Our schools are the biggest outreach and mission field that many of our churches support.
There are over 300,000 college students that attend school within the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas! It is amazing what happens when college students gather to ask honest questions of scripture, earnestly follow Jesus, and share life with each other. We hope you will join us to further this vision of God’s kingdom breaking through on college campuses.
The Diocese of West Texas is committed to creating and sustaining relationships with students who are attending institutions of higher education inside and outside its borders.
Each of our three camping locations (Mustang Island Conference Center, Duncan Park, and Camp Capers) offer retreats, workshops, and conferences throughout the year for adults. Additional retreat opportunities are offered at the Bishop Jones Center year-round.
Cursillo (a Spanish word meaning "little course") gives church members the tools and "rules of life" to enthusiastically share the joys of knowing Christ with others in their everyday environments. Cursillo is patterned on Jesus' own example. He searched out and called groups of potential leaders, trained them and sent them out to bring the world to Him.
Mustang Island Conference Center is a seaside retreat center on 22 acres off the Gulf of Mexico. The conference center provides a sacred place that offers our guests rest, reflection, and renewal surrounded by God’s coastal creation. Mustang Island Family Camp sessions take place in the summer, beginning on Thursday afternoons and continuing through Sunday breakfast. As a family, enjoy swimming, sand castle building, surfing arts and crafts, meals, beach games, campfire, worship, biblically based teaching, and much more. Mustang Island is also open year-round, and serves all God’s children as a ministry of Christian hospitality to all.
Camp Capers is nestled on 188 acres in the Texas Hill Country, 40 miles northwest of San Antonio on the banks of the Guadalupe River. Camp Capers offers programming for families in the Fall and Spring. Retreat sessions include Mother/Daughter, Father/Son, Mother/Son & Father/Daughter, and more.
Duncan Park is the Diocese of West Texas' mountaintop retreat center, located 20 miles west of Boulder, Colorado. Existing completely off-the-grid with solar panels providing electricity, no cell phone service, and potable water from its well, this facility captures the rugged beauty of the surrounding mountains and allows for a true respite from the hustle and bustle of modern life. In addition to summer camps for various ages, and Fall retreats for Adults, Duncan Park hosts a session in late July for families.
The World Missions Department seeks to engage every member and every church of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas in the work of evangelism and mission. World Missions works to be faithful to the Great Commission, Jesus Christ's command to "go therefore and make disciples of all the nations" (Matthew 28:19), and His Great Commandment "to love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39), and to assist the Missionary People of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas in their call to "proclaim the word and example of the Good news of God in Christ."
The Episcopal Diocese of West Texas shares approximately five hundred border miles with Mexico, along the Rio Grande River from Lake Amistad in Del Rio to Boca Chica Beach on the southernmost tip of the state. Individuals and churches along the border are responding to the needs of asylum seekers, as well as individuals in local law enforcement, in a variety of outreach and pastoral care ministries.
The Diocese's Recovery Ministries seek to Inform and assist the clergy and laity of the Diocese of West Texas in the area of addiction problems and recovery.
Much of the work of the diocese is carried out through the various committees, commissions, and boards where clergy and lay church members serve in order to strengthen the mission and ministry of the diocese through the development of resources, leadership and expertise, and advising to various program departments. Our diocesan members are generous with their time and expertise in serving on these groups, many as volunteers. For Committee Chair contact information, please contact the diocesan office.
The Diocesan Altar Guild provides support and resources for altar guilds throughout the diocese. A congregation's Altar Guild takes care of the sacred vessels, vestments, and linens used in services of worship as well as other responsibilities in collaboration with the rector or vicar. Click here to open the Altar Guild Handbook.
Camps and Conferences committees include the Capers Site Committee, Mustang Island Program Committee, Mustang Island Site Committee, Duncan Park Program Committee, Duncan Park Site Committee, and Summer Deans and Chaplains, that work to support the development efforts and programming of the Department of Camps & Conferences.
The goal of the Commission on Christian Faith in Action is based on our baptismal covenant: to strive for justice and peace among all creation through individual and corporate action, advocacy, and interfaith cooperation. Within this department are the diocesan ministries for Environmental Stewardship, Habitat for Humanity, Kairos Prison Ministry, and Recovery Ministries.
The Christian Formation Committee exists to encourage and equip the congregations of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas in their ministry of lifelong Christian formation and faith education.
The Commission on Church Buildings reviews and approves plans to alter current church buildings, or to build new structures.
The Episcopal Church Corporation is a nonprofit, benevolent, and charitable corporation authorized to receive and administer funds and properties given to the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas. In addition, the Church Corporation acts as a trustee in receiving and administering funds for the use and benefit of the churches in the diocese.
The College Ministry Council is committed to creating and sustaining relationships with students who are attending institutions of higher education inside and outside its borders.
The Commission on Ministry (COM) includes the Compensation Committee, Continuing Education Committee, Discernment Committee, and Examining Chaplains Committee. For more information, contact Leigh Saunders, Exec. Asst. to the Bishop.
The Communications Committee supports the work of the Communications Office of the diocese.
The Congregational Development Committee engages in conversation with Episcopal congregations within the diocese and offers personalized guidance and tools to support each congregations’ growth as healthy, vibrant, local expressions of Jesus Christ’s love in the world.
Committees of diocesan Council include Bishop's Address, Church Pension Fund, Constitutions & Canons, Credentials & Privileges, Dispatch of Business, Nominating Committee, Resolution Committee, and Status of Parish & Missions.
The Creation Care Committee (previously Committee on Ecological Stewardship) provides resources to help churches understand the spiritual value of Creation Care and practical information to help individuals transform their lives and become stewards of God's creation. For more information, contact the diocesan office.
The Cursillo Secretariat helps lead the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas Cursillo retreats.
Deputies and Alternates serve as voting representatives of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas at General Convention and Provincial Synod in Summer 2021. The General Convention is the governing body of The Episcopal Church. Every three years it meets as a bicameral legislature that includes the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops, composed of deputies and bishops from each diocese.
The Diocesan Development Steering Committee provides leadership and raises funds for development projects within the diocese. It includes a sub-committees for Camps and Conferences.
The Commission on Disaster Response of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas works in collaboration with churches, the diocese, and local organizations to respond to disasters, to provide support for full and sustained community recovery, and to share disaster preparedness resources.
A Community of Women, Reuniting and Supporting Each Other to Grow the Kingdom of God where they live and move and have their being.
The Episcopal Schools Commission provides leadership, resources, and support for Episcopal Schools.
The Evangelism Committee provides partnership, mentoring, and tools for local congregations seeking to reach their surrounding community with the good news of Christ's love.
The Executive Board exercises all powers of the Diocesan Council between its meetings regarding long-range plans, diocesan development, and carrying information on the work of the diocese.
The Finance Committee supports the work of the Finance Office, handling daily and annual financial operations for the diocese.
Good Samaritan Community Services is a private, nonprofit organization established by the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas in 1951. The Board of Directors is composed of 51% Episcopal Church members.
The Happening Advisory Board helps lead the Bishop's Happening Movement.
The Historical Commission collects, archives, and makes available important documents as well as the history of the diocese and its churches.
The Mental Health Commission seeks to be a resource for churches and individuals, to help congregations recognize people who are struggling with mental health, and to provide initial first aid to support them. They will also be able to connect struggling individuals to different resources and professional help that they need to heal.
The Military Ministry seeks to provide resources and inspiration to churches that want to support the military members and veterans in their congregations and communities.
The Order of the Daughters of the King® Chapter of West Texas seeks to extend Christ's Kingdom through Prayer, Service, and Evangelism.
The Trustees of the University attend the annual meeting of the Board of Trustees, promote Church support and student enrollment, and report to the annual Council the condition and progress of said University.
The Scholarship Committee leads and administers the Douglass Foundation Scholarship Program of the diocese, and is composed of past Douglass Scholarship recipients, clergy, and lay leaders.
The Standing Committee is responsible for the continuity and integrity of the organizational church, consenting to election of bishops, approving candidates for ordination, and controlling fiscal encumbrance of the diocese.
The Stewardship Committee educates and inspires the members of the diocese with the larger meaning of Christian stewardship. It's not just about tithing; stewardship is all we do, all the time, with all we have in response to the Good News of Jesus Christ.
The TMI Episcopal Board of Governors is responsible for communicating the needs of the school to the Diocese and to gather resources in support of the school. One member of the Diocese is elected annually by Council to serve on the Board.
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