by Canon Patrick Funston
Following the January resignation of at-large representative Diana Waddell-Gilbert, the Council of Trustees has appointed Mason Weber to serve the remainder of the first year of that term. Mason was appointed at the Council’s March 20, 2024 meeting following nomination and balloting.
Mason is a member of St. Paul’s, Manhattan, and has served in a variety of parish and diocesan leadership positions including Facilitator for St. Paul’s Friday Morning Prayer Group, Peer Minister at Canterbury K-State, and Youth and Young Adult Ministry Intern for the Diocese of Kansas. Mason was recently confirmed by Bishop Bascom and at the age of 21 will be the youngest member of the Council in recent memory.
Mason said of the appointment, “I am honored to have been appointed to this position and to be able to give back in this way to a Diocese and community that has been so influential in my life and faith journey. I am excited to learn from and with the other council members as we discern how to best move towards our strategic goals.”
Bishop Bascom stated, “I am so happy for Mason to join the Council of Trustees, especially because the Council has identified empowering youth and young adult leadership in the diocese as a crucial objective in its strategic planning process. The Council knows how important it is to have youth and young adult voices present in our leadership bodies. It seems very fitting for the Council to model what we hope to see around our diocese.”
Beth Fitz-Gibbon, President of the Council of Trustees, shared, “Mason has a rich background of leadership in our diocese. He will be a valuable resource, and we are delighted to have him as a member of this body.”
The Council of Trustees is the governing body for the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas between conventions. It works in partnership with the bishop to oversee all matters relating to diocesan programs and finance. It shares responsibility for casting vision and strategic planning. As the canonical Standing Committee, the non-bishop members of the Council participate in the governance of the wider Church in a variety of ways including approval of candidates for ordination and providing consent for the consecration of bishops throughout The Episcopal Church.
The Council of Trustees consists of six at-large members elected by the diocesan convention (three lay, three clergy) and two members elected by each of the four convocation boards (one clergy, one lay) who are confirmed by diocesan convention. The bishop is an ex officio member of the Council and presides at its monthly meetings.
Article V of the Diocesan Constitution describes the process of filling vacant seats on the Council of Trustees. In the case of a vacant At-large seat, the Council appoints a new representative to serve until the next diocesan convention at which point the convention will elect a replacement to serve the remainder of the full term. Nominations for elected offices open in the summer.
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