The work of the diocese is carried out by the many volunteers (lay leaders and clergy) who dedicate their time to serving on more than 30 commissions, committees and task forces.
The chair of each committee or commission is responsible for filing an annual report of that group for inclusion in the annual convention journal. Information about each commission is taken from the most recent report.
Canonical Committees/Commissions
The makeup, terms and duties of the commissions and committees listed below are spelled out in the diocesan canons.
Term: 3 year (Canon XIII.2)
The Budget Committee is a committee of Diocesan Council responsible for preparing and reviewing the annual operating budget of the diocese.
Chair
Brad Sturm, Trinity, Columbus email
Members
Anne Brack, Ascension & Holy Trinity, Wyoming (2026)
Ericka Hall, St. Philip, Columbus (2026)**
Carol Herrick, St. George’s, Dayton (2026)
The Rev. Warren Huestis, All Saints, Washington Court House (2026)**
The Rev. Jason Emerson, St. Patrick, Dublin (2027)
John Wilson, St. Mark’s, Upper Arlington (2026)**
Dot Yeager, St. Mark’s, Columbus*
Randy Young, St. Paul’s, Dayton*
*Bishop appointment
** Diocesan Council appointment
Staff
Nadya Richardson, Diocesan Treasurer
Mark Priest, Canon for Finance and Operations
Term: 3-year, all Bishop Appointed (Canon XV)
The Commission on Congregational Life is responsible for developing and implementing a mission strategy for the diocese. The commission is charged with encouraging, supporting, evaluating, and seeking opportunities for development and growth of all fellowships, missions, and parishes of the diocese.
The Rev. Otto Anderson (2026)
Barbara Banner, St. Margaret’s, Dayton (2026)
Wendell Mulford, St. Paul’s, Chillicothe (2026)
Spencer Izor, St. Paul’s, Oakwood (2026)
The Rev. Alane Osborne, St. Anne’s, West Chester (2027)
Alex Carter, St. Patrick’s, Dublin (2027)
The Rev. David Burman, St. John’s, Worthington (2027)
The Rev. Sallie Schisler, retired (2027)
Anny Stevens-Gleason, Redeemer, Hyde Park (2028), chair
The Rev. Brad Gough, St. Timothy’s, Cincinnati (2028)
John Indelecio, Trinity on Capitol Square, Columbus (2028)
The Rev. Julia Joyce-Miesse, St. Luke’s, Granville (2028)
The Rev. Meredith Day Hearn, Bishop’s Representative
Term: 3-year, all bishop appointed (Canon VIII)
The Commission on Ministry (CoM) is responsible for overseeing a variety of matters concerning ordained and lay ministries in the diocese. The CoM consists of 19 people – three cohorts of six (each serving a 3-year term) and a chair. All are appointed by the bishop.
Members
Robin Holland, St. Philip, Columbus (2028), Chair email
Anne Cappelletti, St. Peter’s, Gallipolis (2026)
Lauren Cuff Faller, St. Christopher’s, Fairborn (2026)
Miriam McKenney, Calvary, Cincinnati (2026)
The Rev. Christopher Slane, St. Andrew’s, Cincinnati (2026)
Mary Louise Thomas, St. James, Columbus (2026)
The Rev. Christian Baron, All Saints, Pleasant Ridge (2026)
The Rev. Craig Foster, St. Stephen, Columbus (2027)
Thomas Jones, St. Patrick, Dublin (2027)
Barbara Bass, St. Margaret’s, Trotwood (2027)
The Rev. Rowena MacGregor, St. Paul, Chillicothe, St. Philip, Circleville, St. John, Lancaster, St. Paul, Logan (2027)
The Rev. Jason Prati, All Saints, New Albany (2027)
The Rev. Stacey Sands, Christ Church, Glendale (2027)
Helen Stevens-Gleason, Ascension, Middletown (2028)
Sr. Kathleen Crossman, St. Anne, West Chester (2028)
The Rev. Gayland Trim, All Saints, New Albany (2029)
The Rev. Gene Hallahan, Christ Church, Ironton and All Saints, Portsmouth (2028)
The Rev. Craig Klein, St. Paul’s, Chillicothe (2028)
Staff
The Rt. Rev. Kristin Uffelman White, Bishop
The Rev. Canon Meredith Day Hearn, Canon for Congregations
The Rev. Melanie Slane, Transition Minister
The Rev. Nancy Hopkins-Greene, Chaplain to Seminarians
Committee on Agenda and Dispatch of Business
This committee sets the agenda for diocesan convention; works with the hotel and local arrangements committee; coordinates with the nominations, resolutions, budget and canons committees; supervises the registration and credentials process.
Members
Canon Katie Forsyth, chair
Canon Julie Murray, secretary of convention, arrangements
Sarah Beegle, recording secretary
Liz Brauza-Hughes, registration, credentials
The Rev. Vicki Zust, nominations chair
The Rev. Alice Connor, resolutions chair
Eric Landen, Esq., parlimentarian, chancellor
Subcommittees
Nominations
The Rev. Vicki Zust, chair
Larry James
Grant Patterson
Dianne Ebbs
Melissa Blank
Julie Murray, staff liaison
Resolutions
The Rev. Alice Connor, chair
Jim Heathcote
Edward Lasseigne
The Rev. Gary Lubin
Darien McCoy
Julie Murray, staff liaison
Constitution and Canons
Eric Landen, chancellor
Liturgy
Liturgy & Music Commission
3-year term, shall consist of bishop, coadjutor or suffragan if there is one as ex officio member with voice and vote, and 18 persons, 15 of whom shall be elected by the convention and 3 appointed by the bishop (denoted by *) (Canon XII.3A).
Diocesan Council is the continuing Diocesan Convention throughout the year. Council is governed by Canon XII. Their duty is to carry out the program and policies adopted by Diocesan Convention. Council has charge of the coordination, development, and prosecution of the missionary, education, and social work of the church.
Review and download Diocesan Council minutes and documents.
Class of 2026
Anne Brack, Ascension & Holy Trinity, Wyoming
The Rev. Jason Emerson, St. Patrick’s, Dublin
Larry Haas, Christ Church, Glendale – 2nd Vice President
The Rev. Warren Huestis, All Saints, Washington Court House
Rob Konkol, St. Barnabas, Montgomery
Marissa Staples, St. Andrew’s, Evanston*
Evan Jameson, St. James, Piqua*
The Rev. Phil DeVaul, Redeemer, Hyde Park*
Class of 2027
The Rev. David Burman, St. John’s, Worthington
Judith Grant, St. Mark’s, Upper Arlington
Ericka Hall, St. Philip, Columbus
Katharine Wagner, St. Mark’s, Dayton
The Rev. Phil Hooper, St. Anne, West Chester – 1st Vice President
Class of 2028
The Rev. Julia Joyce-Miesse, St. Luke’s, Granville
Mika Lakomy-Ricketts, St. James, Clintonville
Barbara Shoemaker, Trinity on Capitol Square, Columbus
Nancy Talley, All Saints, New Albany – Recording Secretary
John Wilson, St. Mark’s, Upper Arlington
*bishop appointment
Staff
Canon Katie Forsyth, Canon for Communications
The Rev. Canon Meredith Day Hearn, Canon for Congregations
Canon Mark Priest, Canon for Finance and Operations
Nadya Richardson, diocesan treasurer, ex-officio
The Dioceses of Northwestern Pennsylvania, Ohio, Pittsburgh, Southern Ohio, Western New York and West Virginia maintain a joint disciplinary board to implement Title IV of the Canons. The disciplinary board (RDB) consists of thirteen people (7 clergy, six lay) and constitute a court for purposes of Article IX of the Constitution of the Episcopal Church. Each of the dioceses elect one clergy member and one lay member. The thirteenth member, a clergy member, is nominated by the RDB and subject to the unanimous approval of the bishops of the member dioceses. Each member serves a three-year term.
Diocese of Southern Ohio Members of the RDB
Lissa Barker, St. Patrick, Dublin (2024)
The Rev. Mary Carson, St. James, Cincinnati (2026)
The Finance Committee oversees the fiscal responsibilities of the diocese as outlined in Canon X. Members are nominated by the bishop. The committee consists of ten people, at least six of whom must be laypersons. The Finance Committee reports to the Diocesan Council upon all matters pertaining to the finances of the diocese as may be assigned to it by canon or referred to Diocesan Convention or Diocesan Council.
Chair
Nadya Richardson email
Members
Jeff Baldrige, St. Paul’s, Dayton
Dot Yeager, St. Mark’s, Columbus
Brad Sturm, Trinity on Capitol Square, Columbus
The Rev. Darren Elin, St. Thomas, Terrace Park
The Rev. Ben Speare-Hardy, St. Margaret’s, Trotwood
The Rev. Gene Sheppard, St. Luke’s, Marietta
Doug Carr, St. Paul’s, Logan
The Rev. Lee Anne Reat, Trinity, Newark
James Allsop, St. Simon of Cyrene, Lincoln Heights
Staff
The Rev. Derrick Fetz, missioner for stewardship
Mark Priest, Canon for Finance and Operations
The Rt. Rev. Kristin Uffelman White
Term: 3-year (Constitution Article VIII; Canon VII)
The Standing Committee is made up of three lay and three clergy from the diocese elected for staggered three-year terms. Primary duties are to be a council of advice to the bishop, undertake canonically mandated actions in the ordination process, and review and approve/disapprove any sale or encumbrance of church property in the diocese. Also canonically mandated to review all bishops’ elections and consent. The Standing Committee acts as the Ecclesiastical Authority of the diocese in the absence of a bishop diocesan.
Members
The Rev. David Kendall-Sperry, St. Peter’s, Delaware (2026)
Emily Ross, St. Peter’s, Delaware (2026)
The Rev. Allison English, Calvary, Cincinnati (2027)
Wendell Mulford, St. Paul’s, Chillicothe (2027)
Ed Yuhas, St. Patrick’s, Dublin (2028)
The Rev. Vicki Zust, St. Mark’s, Upper Arlington (2028)
Term: 5-year, elected (Canon XI)
The Trustees of the Church Foundation are responsible for administering loans and funds for church buildings as well as some oversight over diocesan-owned properties.
President (interim)
The Rev. Sallie Schisler, St. Peter’s, Gallipolis and Grace Church, Pomeroy (2028) email
Members
Harold Patrick (2026)
Jean Schelhorn, St. Luke’s, Granville (2027)
Drew Abbott, Christ Church Cathedral, Cincinnati (2029)
Paul Davis, Calvary, Clifton (2030)
Staff
Nadya Richardson, diocesan treasurer
Canon Mark Priest, canon for finance and operations
Term: 5-year, elected. The Trustees of the Diocese consist of five members, no more than two of whom may be clergy (Canon XI).
The Trustees of the Diocese (also known as the Procter Trustees) are responsible for management of the diocesan and certain investments and property owned by the diocese. They also serve as the board of advisors to the bishop on administration of the William Cooper Procter Memorial Fund.
Members
Tyrone K. Yates, St. Andrew’s, Cincinnati (2026)
Patricia Hassel, Redeemer, Cincinnati (2027)
The Rev. David Pfaff, Christ Church, Glendale (2028)*
Mike Kennedy, St. Patrick, Dublin (2029)
The Rev. Darren Elin, St. Thomas, Terrace Park (2030)
*appointed to fill unexpired term
Staff
The Rev. Canon Jodi Baron, canon to the ordinary
Eric Landen, chancellor
Nadya Richardson, diocesan treasurer
Sarah Beegle, recording secretary
Non-Canonical Committees/Commissions/Task Forces
Non-canonical committees, commissions and task forces are formed and carry out their mission at the direction of the bishop.
Lisa Hughes – St. Andrew’s, Evanston (2026)
Larry James – St. Barnabas, Montgomery (2026)
Deneen Trombetti – All Saints, Pleasant Ridge (2026)
The Rev. Michelle Boomgaard, Christ Church, Springfield (2026)
The Rev. Libbie Crawford – Procter Center (2027)
Debby Stokes Wayne – St. Philip, Columbus (2027)
The Rev. Jason Prati – All Saints, New Albany (2027)
Mary Jane Plote, Christ Church, Dayton (2027)
Kim Nelson – St. Patrick’s, Dublin (2028)
John Glaze – St. Mary’s, Hillsboro (2028)
Eric Blake – St. James, Zanesville (2028)
The Rev. Herschel Wade – Redeemer, Hyde Park (2028)
Joe Snavely, Bethany School Liaison
Staff
Miriam McKenney, Missioner for Beloved Community
The Rev. Gerardo Romo, Missioner for Latino Ministries
The Rev. Aaron Rogers, Missioner for Black Ministries
The Commission on Reparative Justice was established as a permanent body of the diocese by resolution at the 151st Diocesan Convention in 2025. It consists of nine to fifteen members appointed by the bishop for three-year terms.
Co-Chairs
The Rev. Karl Stevens, St. Stephen’s, Columbus email
Larry James, St. Barnabas, Montgomery email
Members
Jeff Dey – Our Saviour, Cincinnati
Tyrone K. Yates – St. Andrew’s, Evanston
Dianne Ebbs – Christ Church Cathedral
Debbie Stokes – St. Philip, Columbus
Ariel Miller – Ascension & Holy Trinity, Wyoming
The Rev. John Paddock – St. Christopher’s, Fairborn
The Rev. Michael Tiger – St. James, Zanesville
The Rev. Chris Slane – St. Andrew’s, Evanston
Marsha Dutton – Good Shepherd, Athens
James Bolden – St. Margaret’s, Dayton
The Rev. Beth Turner – St. Alban’s, Bexley
Vanessa Gentry – St. Simon of Cyrene, Lincoln Heights
Karen Western – Church of St. Edward, Whitehall
Staff
Miriam McKenney, missioner for Beloved Community
The Rev. Aaron Rogers, missioner for Black ministries
The Creation Care and Environmental Justice Commission was officially commissioned during the 2022 Diocesan Convention after having served as a task force for two years. Learn more.
Chair
The Rev. Craig Foster email
Members
Dana Carlson, Good Shepherd, Athens
Michelle French, All Saints, Pleasant Ridge
The Rev. Iva Joyce-Miesse, Trinity on Capitol Square, Columbus
Ariel Miller, Ascension & Holy Trinity, Wyoming
Megan Suttman, Advent, Walnut Hills
Jacob Taylor, Advent, Walnut Hills
Dave Thomson, Christ Church Cathedral, Cincinnati
Bill Ubbes, Holy Trinity, Oxford
Kyle Vath, Advent, Cincinnati
Ken Wright, Christ Church, Glendale
Staff
Jerusalem Greer, Procter Center, staff liaison
Episcopal Community Ministries (ECM) is the major source of grants for congregational ministries working to help our Ohio neighbors overcome life challenges. ECM has a minimum of three and maximum of nine members, all serving at the discretion of the bishop.
Chair
Members
Lily Balukjian-Thompson, St. John’s, Worthington
Judy Battle, St. Margaret’s, Trotwood
Jane Paraskevopoulos, Calvary, Cincinnati
Andi Wright, Epiphany, Nelsonville
Gail Riley Kenney, St. Andrew’s, Cincinnati
Triná Owens-Rogers, St. Margaret’s, Dayton
The Rev. Gregory Williams, St. Barnabas, Montgomery
The Rev. Brice Patterson, St. Stephen’s, Columbus
Staff
The Rev. Derrick Fetz, staff liaison
Julie Murray, staff liaison
The structure of the Faith in Life Committee is under review as part of our diocesan-wide Mission Implementation work. Temporarily, grants will be considered by a small task force of the diocesan staff:
The Rev. Canon Meredith Day Hearn, Canon for Congregations (convenor)
The Rev. Derrick Fetz, Missioner for Stewardship
Canon Katie Forsyth, Canon for Communications
The Rev. Gerardo Romo Garcia, Missioner for Latino Ministries
Miriam McKenney, Missioner for Beloved Community
And will be joined by those filling the calls to:
Missioner for Black Ministries
Missioner for Lifelong Formation
The Lawrence Home Association, founded in 1896 under the will of philanthropist Eleanor Earnshaw, was started to “provide a Christian home for self-supporting, young women on limited means, the most important aim being to help them elevate their standard of life.” The Lawrence Home Association provides opportunities for young minority women and daughters of active clergy of the diocese.
Chair
Deborah Allsop, St. Simon of Cyrene, Lincoln Heights email
Members
Dianne Ebbs, Christ Church Cathedral
Jamie Fetz, Our Savior, Mechanicsburg
Ericka Hall, St. Philip, Columbus
Barbara Hudson-Banner, St. Margaret’s, Trotwood
Katrina Mundy, St. Andrew’s, Cincinnati
Dorothy Powell, All Saints, Cincinnati
Margo Rapp, St. Barnabas, Montgomery
Staff
The Rt. Rev. Kristin White, ex-officio
Sarah Beegle, staff support
The Rev. Jason Prati, All Saints, New Albany, chair
The Rev. Benjamin Speare-Hardy, St. Margaret’s, Trotwood
Anny Stevens-Gleason, Redeemer, Hyde Park
The Rev. Sallie Schisler
Dr. Sarah Simko, staff liaison
Anny Stevens-Gleason, Redeemer, Cincinnati
Asher Thomas, All Saints, New Albany
The Rev. Robert Hill, Good Shepherd, Athens and Epiphany, Nelsonville
Emily Joyce, Christ Church, Dayton
Drew Abbott, Christ Church Cathedral, convenor
The Rev. Iva Joyce-Miesse, Trinity, Columbus
Mark Conrad, St. John’s, Lancaster
Staff
Canon Katie Forsyth
Canon Julie Murray
The purpose of the Minority Empowerment Trust is to provide continuing funds to empower and serve minority persons, especially within the area served by the diocese.
President
The Rev. Benjamin Speare-Hardy email
Members
Deborah Allsop, St. Simon of Cyrene, Lincoln Heights, Vice-President
Judy Battle, St. Margaret’s, Trotwood, Secretary
Dionne Clifton, St. Philip, Columbus
Clark Cowan, St. Simon of Cyrene, Lincoln Heights
Michael Hughes, St. Andrew’s, Cincinnati
Ellie O. Johnson, St. Andrew’s, Cincinnati, treasurer
Lynnee Roberts, St. Margaret’s, Trotwood
The Rev. Gayland Trim
Cynthia Turner, St. Philip, Columbus
Tyrone Yates, St. Andrew’s, Cincinnati
Staff
tbd, staff support
The Procter Center Board acts to ensure the success of the mission of the Procter Camp and Conference Center, which provides a safe, inviting and spacious rural setting that cultivates spiritual formation, models sustainable living and celebrates God’s love and reconciliation through hospitality, prayer, study, work and play.
Chair
The Rt. Rev. Kristin White email
Members
Tym House, Redeemer, Cincinnati (2026)
Spencer Izor, St. Paul’s, Dayton (2026)*
Kristin LeMay, Good Shepherd, Athens (2027)*
Meghan Western – Church of St. Edward, Whitehall (2027)
The Rev. Iva Joyce-Miesse, Trinity on Capitol Square, Columbus (2028)
The Rev. Dan Carlson, Church of the Advent, Walnut Hills (2028)*
Drew Abbott, Christ Church Cathedral – Liaison, Church Foundation Trustees
The Rev. Jason Emerson, St. Patrick, Dublin – Liaison, Diocesan Council
Mike Kennedy, St. Patrick, Dublin – Liaison, Diocesan Trustees
*bishop appointment
Staff
Jerusalem Greer, Co-Executive Director
Nathan Greer, Co-Executive Director
The Rev. Olivia Hamilton, Bishop’s Representative
