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Commissions & Committees

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. (Submit 2023 report here.)

The makeup, terms and duties of the commissions listed below are spelled out in the diocesan canons. Non-canonical committees are formed and carry out their mission at the direction of the bishop.

Canonical Commissions

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 (2024) email

Members

The Rev. Jean Cotting* (2024)
Clifton Flemister (2024)*
Ericka Hall (2024)**
The Rev. Warren Huestis (2024)**
Larry James (2024)**
Dot Yeager (2024)*
Nancy Talley (2025)***
Anne Brack (2026)***
Carol Herrick (2026)***

*Bishop appointment
** Diocesan Council appointment
***elected at Convention

Staff

Nadya Richardson, Diocesan Treasurer
Christine Perme, CFO
The Rev. Canon John Johanssen, Canon to the Ordinary (staff liaison)
Andrea Owens, staff support

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.

Chair

The Rev. Michael Tigner (2024) email

Members

The Rev. Terri Thornton (2024)
Anne Shuff (2024)
Wendell Mulford (2024)
Drew Abbott (2025)
The Rev. Meredith Day Hearn (2025)
Ron Brown-Gray (2025)
Paul Wyatt (2026)
The Rev. Emmanuel Tuyishime (2026)
The Rev. Julie Fisher (2026)
Dionne Clifton (2026)
The Rev. Brian Player (2026)

Staff
The Rev. Canon Michael Spencer
The Rev. Canon Jason Oden
The Rev. Canon John Johanssen
Andrea Owens, staff support

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.

Chair

Robin Holland (2025) email

Members

Barbara Bass (2024)
The Rev. Rowena MacGregor (2024)
The Rev. Jason Prati (2024)
The Rev. Stacey Sands (2024)
The Rev. Paul Scanlan (2024)
Anne Shuff (2024)
Jermaine Carew (2025)
Sr. Kathleen Crossman (2025)
The Rev. Allison English (2025)
The Rev. George Glazier (2025)
The Rev. Craig Klein (2025)
Chris Nelson (2025)
Anne Cappilletti (2026)
Lauren Cuff Faller (2026)
Miriam McKenney (2026)
The Rev. Christopher Slane (2026)
Mary Louise Thomas (2026)
The Rev. Vicki Zust (2026)

Staff

The Rt. Rev. Kristin White, ex-officio
The Rev. Nancy Hopkins-Greene, chaplain to seminarians
The Rev. Canon Michael Spencer, staff liaison
Sarah Beegle, staff support

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

The Rev. Canon John Johanssen, chair
Canon Julie Murray, secretary of convention
The Rev. Alice Connor, resolutions
Jon Boss, nominations
Eric Landen, Esq., parlimentarian and vice-chancellor
Joseph J. Dehner, Esq., chancellor
Katherine Wagner, Diocesan Council representative

Subcommittees

Nominations

Jon Boss, 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
Julie Murray, staff liaison

Constitution and Canons

Joseph Dehner, chancellor
Eric Landen, vice chancellor

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.

Officers

The Rt. Rev. Kristin White, president email

Members

The Rev. Theorphlis Borden (2024)*
Barry Feist (2024)**
Dagny Gelormo (2024)*
Ericka Hall (2024)
The Rev. Peter Homeyer (2024)
Larry James (2024)
The Rev. Bruce Smith (2024)
Nancy Sullivan (2024)**
Katherine Wagner (2024)
Kyle Vath* (2024)
The Rev. Pamela Fairley (2025)
Spencer Izor (2025)
Joshua Sherwood (2025)
Nancy Talley (2025)
Anne Brack (2026)
The Rev. Jason Emerson (2026)
The Rev. Warren Huestis (2026)
Kathy Mank (2026)

*bishop appointment
** Diocesan Council appointment

Nadya Richardson, diocesan treasurer, ex-officio

Staff

The Rev. Canon John Johanssen, Canon to the Ordinary, staff liaison
Christine Perme, Chief Financial Officer
Andrea Owens, staff support

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 (2024)
The Rev. Mary Carson (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 Baldridge
Cynthia Bronson
Clifton Flemister
John Harris
Patrick Hreachmack
Bill Ubbes
Carolyn Wilmesherr
Dot Yeager
Randy Young

Staff

The Rev. Canon John Johanssen, Canon to the Ordinary
Christine Perme, CFO
Andrea Owens, staff support

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.

President

The Rev. David Kendall-Sperry (2024) email

Members

Dr. Elizabeth Barker (2024)
Dr. James Allsop (2025)
The Rev. Jed Dearing (2025)
The Rev. Meredith Day Hearn (2026)
Emily Ross (2026)

Staff

The Rev. Canon John Johanssen, staff liaison
Kristi Reynolds, staff support

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

John Gustafson (2027) email

Members
David McKenney (2024)
The Rev. Anne Warrington Wilson (2025)
Harold Patrick (2026)
The Rev. Sallie Schisler (2028)

Staff

Nadya Richardson, diocesan treasurer
The Rev. Canon John Johanssen, canon to the ordinary
Christine Perme, Chief Financial Officer
Andrea Owens, staff support

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.

President

Jon B. Boss (2024) email

Members

The Rev. Jack Koepke (2025)
Tyrone K. Yates (2026)
Patricia Hassel (2027)
The Rev. David Pfaff (2028)*

*appointed to fill unexpired term

Staff

Joseph Dehner, chancellor
Nadya Richardson, diocesan treasurer
Christine Perme, corporate secretary and CFO
Kristi Reynolds, recording secretary

Non-Canonical Committees

The Campus Ministry Collective works to provide Episcopal presence to college and university communities in the Diocese of Southern Ohio, and to spiritually minister to students, faculty, staff, and administrators of college and university communities.

Members

Dr. Ellen O’Shaughnessy, The Downtowners Interfaith Campus Ministry, Columbus
Ginny Sharkey, St. Luke’s, Granville
The Rev. Karl Stevens, St. Stephen’s, Columbus
The Rev. Jean Cotting, Christ Church, Xenia
The Rev. Julie Fisher, Holy Trinity, Oxford

Staff
The Rev. Canon Jason Oden
Adam Hayden

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.

Co-Chairs

The Rev. Catherine Duffy email
The Rev. Craig Foster email

Members

Dana Carlson
The Rev. Warren Huestis
Ariel Miller
Megan Stuntman
Jacob Taylor
David Thomson
Bill Ubbes
Kyle Vath (DC liaison)
Ken Wright

Staff

The Rev. Canon Jason Oden
Andrea Owens, staff support

The mission of Episcopal Church Women is to promote and address issues and concerns related to women and children within the church by providing resources, education and networking opportunities.

President

Kathy Mank email

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

Spencer Izor email

Members

Lily Balukjian-Thompson
Judy Battle
Rae Fellows
The Rev. Joanna Leiserson
Jane Paraskevopoulos
The Rev. Michael Ralph
The Rev. Gene Hallahan
Andi Wright

Staff

Andrea Owens, administrator, staff support

The Faith in Life Committee acts as the trustees of an endowment from the Second Century Fund to provide grants for programs for christian education.

Chair

The Rev. Canon Jason Oden email

Members

Di McCullough
Ariel Miller
Gayland Trim

Staff

The Rev. Christopher Richardson
Emma Helms-Steinmetz
Adam Hayden
Miriam McKenney
Jerusalem Greer
Sarah Beegle, staff support

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 email

Members

Dianne Ebbs
Jamie Fetz
Ericka Hall
Barbara Hudson-Banner
Katrina Mundy
Dorothy Powell
Margo Rapp

Staff

The Rt. Rev.Kristin White, ex-officio
Kristi Reynolds, staff support

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’s, 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
Gayland Trim
Cynthia Turner, St. Philip’s, Columbus
Tyrone Yates, St. Andrew’s, Cincinnati

Staff
Kristi Reynolds, 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

Lissa Barker (2024), First Vice Chair
Jon Boss (2024), Trustees liaison
The Rev. Catherine Duffy (2024)*
Spencer Izor (2024)*
The Rev. Warren Huestis (2024)*
David McKenney (2024), Church Foundation liaison
Annika Russo (2024)
The Rev. Bruce Smith (2024), Diocesan Council liaison
The Rev. Derrick Fetz (2025)*
Jodie Emerson (2025)
Tym House (2026)

*bishop appointment

Staff

Jerusalem Greer, Interim Executive Director
Robin Kimbler, Operations Director
The Rev. Canon Jason Oden, staff liaison

The Reparations Task Force consists of eight to ten members appointed by the bishop for a one-year term on recommendation from the chair. The committee makes recommendations to the bishop, Trustees of the Diocese, Diocesan Council, and the Minority Empowerment Initiative Trust.

Co-Chairs

Dianne Ebbs email
The Rev. Karl Stevens email

Members

Judy Battle
Frank Carr
Dionne Clifton
Vanessa Gentry
John Harris
Lei San Liggins
Pamela Mayo-Mack
The Rev. Chris Slane
Tyrone Yates

Staff

Jeff Dey, consultant
The Rev. Canon John Johanssen, canon to the ordinary
Michael Maloney, consultant

The Sesquicentennial Committee was appointed by Bishop Wayne Smith in early 2023 in response to Diocesan Convention Resolution R2022-07, “Celebration of the Sesquicentennial of the Diocese of Southern Ohio.” It is charged with planning a three-year exploration of the diocese’s history and, ultimately, an observance of its 150th anniversary in 2025.

Members

The Very Rev. Owen Thompson, Christ Church Cathedral, chair
Dianne Ebbs, Christ Church Cathedral and co-chair, Reparations Task Force
The Rev. Scott Gunn, Christ Church, Glendale, and Forward Movement
John Harris, St. Simon of Cyrene, Lincoln Heights
The Rev. Sallie Schisler, Missioner for the River Cities
The Rev. Karl Stevens, St. Stephen’s, Columbus and co-chair, Reparations Task Force
Deborah Stokes Wayne, St. Philip, Columbus

Staff Support

Amy Howton, Becoming Beloved Community consultant
The Rev. John Johanssen, canon to the ordinary
Miriam McKenney, director of dismantling racism
Julie Murray, canon for communications
The Rev. Jason Oden, canon for formation and New Episcopal Communities