2026 begins an 18-month period of both sadness and excitement as we transition from our beloved bishop, Scott Mayer, to our yet unknown next Bishop of the Diocese of Northwest Texas.  Below are the members of the  Standing Committee, the Search Committee and the Transition Committee.  We also have a brief summary of the process, followed by an outline of several ways in which you, as congregations and members of this diocese, can participate in the process in deeply helpful and meaningful ways.  The timeline for the process is on the right.

Applicants

The Diocesan Profile - to learn more about us and how to submit names for consideration.

Consent & Authorization Form - Applicants must complete and submit the Consent & Authorization Form to authorize background checks, reference verification, and the appropriate sharing of information as part of the bishop search process.

 

 To contact any member of the committees involved, please click on their name.  

 The 2025-2026 Standing Committee

President, The Rev. Amy Haynie, Rector, St. Nicholas, Midland

Ms. Mary Emeny, St. Andrew’s, Amarillo

Mrs. Carla Holeva, Holy Trinity, Midland

Mrs. Katy Hoskins, St. Stephen’s, Sweetwater,

The Rev. Matt Rowe, Rector, Emmanuel, San Angelo

The Rev. Debbie Womack, Deacon, St. Stephen’s, Lubbock

 

Bishop’s Search Committee – Diocese of Northwest Texas

Chair, The Venerable Chris Wrampelmeier , St. Andrew's, Amarillo

Chaplain, The Rev. Mary Glover, St. Mark's, Abilene

Mrs. Gretchen Bakke, Holy Trinity, Midland

Mrs. Kathy Balch, Heavenly Rest, Abilene

Ms. Debbie Copeland, St. Stephen's, Lubbock

The Rev. Justin Gibson, Rector, St. Stephen's, Lubbock

The Rev. Jared Houze, Rector, St. Andrew's, Amarillo

Mrs. Cara Lindsey, All Saints', Colorado City

The Rev. Ricardo Lopez, Rector, St. John's, Odessa

Ms. Kayla McBurney, Canterbury Student Ministries, Texas Tech

Mr. John McGarr, St.Matthew's, Pampa

The Rev. Rachel Petty, Rector, St. Christopher's, Lubbock

The Rev. Lilly Plummer, Deacon, St. John's, Odessa

The Rev. Ashley Powers, Associate Priest, Heavenly Rest, Abilene

Mrs. Mary Tinsley, Emmanuel, San Angelo

 

Bishop’s Transition Committee – Diocese of Northwest Texas

Chair, The Rev. Paige McKay, All Saints Episcopal School and St. Stephen's, Lubbock

Chaplain, The Rev. Dann Wigner, St. Christopher's, Lubbock

The Rev. Jo Craig, retired

Mrs. Melissa Faulk, St. Paul's, Lubbock

Dr. Dorothy Jackson, St. Barnabas, Odessa

Mrs. Margaret Jenkins, St. Andrew's, Amarillo

Mrs. Barbara Leeton, Holy Trinity, Midland

Ms. Nazly Lujan, St. John's, Odessa

Mr. Bikole Mulanda, Heavenly Rest, Abilene

The Rev. David Perdue, retired

The Rev. David Romanik, Rector, Heavenly Rest, Abilene

 

How YOU can be helpful:

Along with all active Priests and Deacons canonically resident and domiciled within the Diocese and exercising a ministry recognized in writing by the Bishop, lay delegates to the 2026  Diocesan convention will  be the delegates who vote on the new bishop.  Also, all diocese-wide committee members elected in 2026 will be serving during the transition period.  

  1. Please plan to attend any meet-and-greet event in your area, and if  possible, to help with organizing that event in your area.
  2. Plan to attend the consecration.
  3.  Perhaps most importantly, please keep Bishop Mayer, the bishop‘s staff, the committees and candidates in your prayers.  We urge congregations to adopt the Prayer for Choosing a New Bishop found on page 818 of the BCP as part of your services until June 2027.

 

 Timeline:

  • June 2025, Bishop Mayer announced to the Standing Committee his plan to retire in June of 2027. The Standing Committee is charged with overseeing the whole process including choosing two adjunct subcommittees, a Search Committee and a Transition Committee. The date was secured for the consecration of our new bishop by the Presiding Bishop.

  • October, 2025, Bishop Scott publicly announced his intention to retire. He is not involved with the selection of the next bishop in any way. The committees were announced.  They represent the diversity of the diocese’s geography, demography and congregation size.

  • December 6, 2025, the three committees met with a transition consultant to start planning the work ahead. 

  • January – March 2026 the Search committee develops a profile of the diocese, focusing on outlining the need for a bishop to like driving and enjoying the intensity with which the Holy Spirit often blows, but a deep understanding of  strengths, challenges, hopes and aspirations we hold for the next chapter of our diocesan life. 

  • April 2026, the application along with the profile goes live through all possible channels of the church.  It will be up until May 31st.  

  • Summer 2026, the Search committee evaluates applications and narrows the list.

  • September 24-26, the Search Committee holds a discernment retreat with the remaining  candidates, after which it presents a slate of nominees to the Standing Committee.

  • By October 1, 2026, The Standing Committee then opens a 10-day window for any last minute candidates to apply, after which the final slate is presented to the diocese.

  • Nov. 11-15, 2026, meet and greet opportunities are held  around the diocese for the nominees and their spouses.  These are arranged by the Transition Committee.

  • January 16, 2027, Convention delegates meet in Lubbock to elect our next bishop.

  • June 1, 2027, Bishop Mayer officially resigns.

  • June 5, 2027 the Sixth Bishop Diocesan of Northwest Texas is consecrated, organized by the Transition Committee.