The Diocese has several governing boards and committees comprised of lay and clergy representatives.
The Executive Board serves as the governing board of the Diocese and exercises general care and oversight of all matters affecting the welfare and work of the Diocese. As such, the Executive Board conducts the business of the Diocese between meetings of Diocesan Convention. The board presents the annual Diocesan budget to the Diocesan Convention. Each member serves on one of four working groups: Finance, Justice & Reconciliation, Property, or Mission & Evangelism. Meetings are held approximately five times a year. Each convocation is entitled to two clergy and two lay members of the Executive Board, each of whom serves a three-year term.
Executive Board Officers
Stephenia Tibbs
Billy Lyons
The Rev. Emily Edmondson
The Rev. David Bridges
Jeff Jones
Steve Berneking
The Rev. Tom DuMontier
The Very Rev. Katherine Doyle
Jon Cros
Jim Ackley
The Rev. Ben Cowgill
The Rev. Matt Rhodes
Will Harris
Peggy Weston
The Rev. Sarah Lusk
The Rev. Paul Hicks
Christie Wills
The Rev. John Adams
The Rev. John Heck
The Rt. Rev. Karin MacPhail, Chair
Mark Loftis, Chancellor
Chuck Reedy, Treasurer
Pattie Ames, Secretary
The Standing Committee meets under the authority of the Canons of General Convention and the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia. Its work is primarily concerned with issues of ordination, clergy discipline, and real property. It also serves as a council of advice for the bishop. The committee serves as the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese in the absence of a bishop. Meetings are held every month or as needed. Lay and clergy members serve on the committee for a three-year term.
Standing Committee
The Rev. Katherine Doyle, President
Nick Moga
The Rev. Cara Modisett
The Very Rev. John Church
Peggy Whitehead
Deborah Williams
The Disciplinary Board serves under the authority of the Canons of the General Convention and the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia. Members of the Disciplinary Board may be appointed by their president to serve in panels that may convene to ascertain the facts and seek reconciliation or suggest the discipline of clergy who have violated the standards of conduct as enumerated in Canon IV.4 of the Canons of the General Convention. Members meet only to elect the president and to serve on panels if cases proceed.
Disciplinary Board
The Very Rev. William Yagel
Marty Siebkin
The Rev. Gail Goldsmith
Andrea Zirkle
The Rev. Emily Edmondson
The Rev. Matt Rhodes – President
Susan Palmer
Jo Kelley
The Rev. Tray Light
The Rev. Scott West
Linda Hall
The Rev. Deacon Bill Bumgarner
For more information about the disciplinary process for Episcopal clergy under the Title IV canons or to report suspected clergy misconduct, please go to the Safe Church, Safe Communities page of this website for more information.
The Commission on Ministry assists the bishop in matters pertaining to the enlistment and selection of persons for the ministry and in the guidance and pastoral care of all postulants and candidates for holy orders, deacons, and professional church workers; in matters pertaining to the continuing education and career development of the clergy; in the deployment of clergy; and the establishment of standards and the provision of training for lay leaders in the Diocese.
Commission on Ministry
The Rev. Susan Bentley, Interim- Chair
The Rev. A.J. Heine
The Rev. Paul Hicks
Dr. Brian Wood
Darla Schumm
The Rev. Scott West
The Rev. Ben Cowgill
Debbie Williams
Barbara Johnson
Mary Rogers
The Rev. Deacon Kathy Chase
Dr. David Hartman
Information on the Discernment Process & the Diaconate
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 Executive Council serves as the governing body of The Episcopal Church between sessions of General Convention, charged specifically with executing the program and policies adopted by Convention.
The 82nd General Convention will take place in Phoenix, AZ (Diocese of Arizona) from July 3 – 8 2027.
General Convention Deputation
Lay Deputies
Laura Beth Weaver (1)
Delia Heck (2)
Jack Barrow (3)
John Cros (4)
Lay Alternates
Joe Fiechtl (1)
Mark Loftis (2)
Debbie Williams (3)
Ryan Blevins (4)
Clergy Delegates
Nina Salmon (1)
Sarah Lusk (2)
Cara Modisett (3)
Susan Bentley (4)
Clergy Alternates
John Church (1)
Dick Willis (2)
Kathy Maddox (3)
Jon Greene (4)
The Diocese of Southwestern Virginia is part of the Third Province of The Episcopal Church. The Province is governed by a Provincial Synod. Each Diocese elects deputies to represent the Diocese to the Synod. On General Convention years, Synod helps deputies prepare for General Convention. On other years, Synod meets for an educational program and business meeting with elections of Provincial Officers and Executive Council members from the Province. Get more information about Province III.
Provincial Synod Representatives
Representatives
The Rev. Cara Modisett
John Levin
Billy Lyons
Alternates
The Rev. Susan Bentley
The Rev. Kathy Maddox
Crystal Beirne
Karyn Barra