Council of Trustees

The Council of Trustees is the governing body of the diocese between conventions. It also functions as the diocese’s Standing Committee.

Six members are elected at-large by Diocesan Convention, and eight members come from the convocations – one lay person and one clergy person from each. Terms are three years; members may serve two consecutive terms.

The bishop presides at meetings as Council chair. The president of the Council is Dr. Beth Fitz Gibbon.

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

Dr. Beth Fitz Gibbon (2024-first term), President
The Rev. Doreen Rice (2025-second term)
The Very Rev. Casey Rohleder (2024-second term)
Ms. Teresa Ryther (2025-first term), Assistant Clerk
The Rev. Daryl Stanford (2026-first term)
Mr. Mason Weber (2024-appointed 3/20/24 to complete first year of 2026 term)

Northeast Convocation members

The Rev. Jim Cummins (2026-second term)
Mr. Ron Olson (2025-first term)

Northwest Convocation members

The Rev. Margaret McGhee (2026-first term)
Ms. Melanie Hoyle Laster (2025-first term)

Southeast Convocation members

The Rev. Helen Hoch (2026-first term), Clerk
Mr. John Smittle (2025-first term)

Southwest Convocation members

Mr. Mike Morrow (2025-second term)
The Very Rev. Laurie Lewis (2026-first term)

Strategic Plan Presentations to the 164th Convention (2023)

Members of the Council of Trustees presented an update on their ongoing planning work.

Links to six-slide presentations with more detail as of October 2023:

• Congregational Vitality: “Strengthen congregational vitality in all its forms to respond to the needs of a changing church and world.”
• Invitation & Mission: “Develop a culture of mission, invitation, and welcome in neighborhoods.”
• Youth & Young Adults: “Demonstrate commitment to youth and young adults as part of current leadership of the Church.”
• Leadership Capacity: “Diocesan and parish leaders will have the resources they need to be healthy and sustainable in their ministries and resources to recruit and train clergy and lay leaders equipping them to creatively meet the challenges in their parishes.”