Council of Trustees

The Council of Trustees of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas is elected by the Convocation Boards and Annual Convention to be the governing body of the Diocese in the period between Diocesan Conventions. In the Diocese of Kansas, the Trustees are also the “Standing Committee,” a body required by Article IV of the Constitution of The Episcopal Church. As the Standing Committee, it serves as a council of advice to the Bishop and performs other duties on behalf of the diocese and the wider Church. When the Diocese is without a bishop diocesan, the Council of Trustees as Standing Committee, is the Ecclesiastical Authority of the diocese.

To communicate with the Council of Trustees during this time without a bishop, please e-mail cot@episcopal-ks.org.

The Council of Trustees is comprised of fifteen voting members:

• The Bishop is an ex officio member of the Council of Trustees and serves as its Chair. “ex officio” is a Latin term meaning “from the office,” referring to someone who holds a position or role automatically because they hold another official position.
• Four clergy persons and four laypersons elected by the Convocation Boards (one of each order from each Convocation) and confirmed by the Annual Convention.
• Three clergy persons and three laypersons elected at-large by the Annual Convention (one of each order at each Convention).

If lay members of the Council of Trustees are not otherwise a member of convention, their position on Council makes them ex officio members, entitled to seat, voice and vote at diocesan and special conventions along with the board of the convocation in which they reside.

Members are elected to a three-year term and may be re-elected once. The fourteen non-bishop members are the Standing Committee, which chooses its own President.

The Council of Trustees is advised and supported by the diocesan staff along with the Treasurer, Chancellor and Vice-chancellors of the Diocese.

Currently, the Council meets monthly for several hours on a Wednesday, with about half the meetings by Zoom and the other half in Topeka.

Minutes of the Council of Trustees meetings are available for download.

Current Council of Trustees Members

Including the year their term ends and in which term they are serving. Terms end at the conclusion of the diocesan convention of the stated year.

At-large members

The Rev. Canon Jody Carroll (2028–first term)
The Rev. Carl Edwards (2027–first term), Assistant Clerk
Mr. Stephan Mann (2027–first term)
Ms. Teresa Ryther (2028–second term)
The Rev. Daryl Stanford (2029–second term)
Mr. Mason Weber (2029–second term)

Northeast Convocation members

The Rev. David Cox (2029–first term)
Mr. Ron Olson (2028–second term), President

Northwest Convocation members

Ms. Melanie Hoyle Laster (2028–second term)
The Rev. Margaret McGhee (2029–second term)

Southeast Convocation members

The Rev. Helen Hoch (2029–second term), Clerk
Ms. Martha Stone (2028–first term)

Southwest Convocation members

Mr. Tim Flynn (2028–first term)
The Very Rev. Laurie Lewis (2029–second term)

Commitments of the Members of the Council of Trustees

1. Regular prayer for the Church and its mission and ministry, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit for all decisions one is called upon to make.
2. Active role in the life and ministry of a parish of the diocese.
3. Presence for all meetings of the Council of Trustees and the committees on which one serves, including at least one overnight (weekday) retreat.
4. Attendance at meetings of their Convocation Boards, including communicating the needs, concerns, and hopes of the Convocation Board to the Council of Trustees.
5. Serve as communicators for the Council of Trustees in their Convocations and Congregations.
6. Maintaining up-to-date background checks, Safe Church training and training in Racial Reconciliation and Healing per diocesan policy.