At the annual convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, delegates stood at the threshold of change as they honored bishop George Sumner’s years of service marking his final convention as diocesan bishop and celebrating his enduring legacy in the life of the diocese, the Episcopal Church and the global Anglican Communion. Newly consecrated Bishop Rob Price served at his first convention as bishop. In the midst of this bittersweet transition in leadership, the meeting carried on its usual business of worship, approving a budget, electing officers and sharing the love of Christ as they reconnected with one another and made new friends from across the diocese.

Convention weekend began on Friday with morning prayer and a sermon by Dr. Shady Anis, and two speakers for Leadership Day; Dr. Kristen Deede Johnson, principal of Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto, and Dr. Lauren Whitnah, dean of Nashotah House. Johnson spoke about navigating the complex and divisive times through a posture of open-handedness, drawing from St. Augustine’s teachings. She suggested that Christians should engage in political and cultural exchanges with open hands seeking to contribute to the common good while maintaining a focus on ultimate hope in Christ. Whitnah’s presentation, “Love in a Time of Crisis: Some Suggestions from the Medieval Church” focused on the 12th Century and contemporary relevance. She examined the idea of receiving God's love to be able to love others. Her presentation included periods of thoughtful questions for reflection and prayer.

Convention Day started with worship and Holy Eucharist on Saturday morning with guest preacher the Rev. Jeff Boldt who is a missioner in Egypt.  Afterward, business commenced with officers establishing credentials and a quorum before delegates began voting for representatives of the diocese.

Here are the election results:

Secretary of Convention: Bob Buchanan

Standing Committee: The Rev. Tom Smith, St. Paul’s in Prosper; Lance Taylor, St. Philip’s in Frisco.

Executive Council: The Rev. Jordan Griesbeck, Incarnation; the Rev. Gavin McAdam, St. Luke’s in Dallas; Jonathan Bross, APNET; Gerry DeBusk, St Philip’s in Sulphur Springs; Francisco Quiroz, San Francisco de Asis in Dallas and Greg Moore III, Incarnation

Trustee, University of the South: Dallas Gingles, St. Augustine’s in Dallas.

General Convention: The Rev. Katie Gerber, St. Matthew’s Cathedral; The Rev. Tom Smith, St. Paul in Prosper; the Rev. Matthew Olver, non-parochial; the Rev. Andrew Van Kirk, St. Andrew’s in McKinney. James Callaway, Holy Cross in Parish; Cathleen Dolt, St. James in Dallas; Jolayne LaCour, St. David of Wales in Denton; Rebecca Wellborn, St. Paul in Waxahachie.

General Convention Clergy Alternates: First alternate, the Rev. Ian Hyde, second alternate the Rev. Paul Nesta, third alternate, the Rev. Cynthia Moore, fourth alternate the Rev. Rebecca Tankersley.

General Convention Lay Alternatives: First alternate, Jonathan Bross, second alternate Fred Ellis, third alternate, Adele Ichillian, fourth alternate Julie Braeten.

A highlight of convention was the announcement of two mission status churches that have become financially independent and were granted parish status. Both churches have strong laity and clergy that have ushered in a new season of growth and activity. St. Stephens in Sherman, led by the Rev. Lorenzo Galuszka, has doubled their average Sunday attendance and have seen that growth in the increase of baptisms, confirmations and a more robust choir. With the boost of children in attendance there will now be a new Christmas pageant on deck for advent. “The overall atmosphere at the church is filled with excitement about what the church is doing and the new ministries that have sprung up,” church leaders wrote in their application.

After 149 years, St. Paul Ellis County in Waxahachie reached parish status. Under the leadership of the Rev. James Detrich the church has forged a pathway for financial self-reliance. The church is growing with young families as the region itself increases rooftops and businesses. Church leaders wrote in their application, “St Paul has expanded its sense of mission. A few years ago, the decision was made to further define the mission field, and St. Paul was renamed St. Paul Ellis County. It’s more than rebranding, it’s aspiration.”

Bishop Nominations were also announced:

Corporation of the Diocese: Pat Bostian, Melinda Gage

Audit Committee: Alan Dunlop, William Peeler, the Rev. Robert Corley

Commission on Ministry: James Callaway, Mary Lu French, the Rev. Aquilino Lara, Sandy Mebus, the Rev. Robert Corley, the Rev. Cn. David Ofoegbu

Commission on Episcopal Schools: Jennifer Hargrave, Rebecca Gingles

Constitution and Canons: The amendment allowing mission station churches the right to have lay representation at the convention did not pass. Amendments to clarify language in existing canons concerning TEC General Board of Examining Chaplains was passed.

Price presented the annual clergy changes report:

Ordained Deacon: Andrew T. Golla, Erica A.I. Andersen, Carrie Headington, Joseph Roberts

Ordained Priest: The Rev. Jordan Griesbeck, the Rev. Erica Andersen, the Rev. Andrew Golla.

Consecrated Bishop: The Rt. Rev. Robert P. Price

Vocations Report: Commission on Ministry:

• Hosted 14 aspirants at discernment retreat
• Interviewed 8 nominees for postulancy
• Interviewed 7 postulants for candidacy
• Interviewed 4 candidates for diaconate
• Interviewed 3 deacons for priest
• Examined 4 candidates by the Board of Examining Chaplains, a sub-committee of the Commission

Congregation Changes:

Newly canonically resident:

• The Rev. Lillian Kamau
• The Rev. Matthew J. W. Sparks
• No longer canonically resident or transferred out:
• The Rev. Michael P. Anderson
• The Rev. Paul Klitzke
• The Rev. Dr. Fabian Villalobos
• The Rev. Joseph D. Dewey
• The Rev. Miguel A. Carmona Romero
• The Rev. Perry Mullins
• The Rev. Dr. Chrisopher A. Beeley
• The Rev. Daniel McCarley
• The Rev. Matthew Rossi

Released and removed from ordained ministry:

1. Ignacio Gama

Newly licensed to officiate:

• The Rt. Rev. Greg Brewer
• The Rev. David Faulkner
• The Rt. Rev. Dean Wolfe

Mission Stations:

• Holy Trinity Bonham, led by the Rev. Christopher Heying
• San Marcos, Mount Pleasant, led by the Rev. Alfredo Williams
• Saint Francis, Winnsboro, overseen by the Rev. Cynthia Moore
• Saint Justin the Martyr, Canton, led by the Rev. Marc Dobson
• Grace Community, Plano, led by the Rev. Samira Page
• Our Savior, Dallas, led by the Rev. Joey Clavijo

2025 Necrology/Deaths:

• The Rev. Thomas Pantle, March 23
• The Rev. Stuart Kent, May 13
• The Rev. Ernest Hunt, May 29
• The Rev. Canon Rene Somodevilla, November 5

In other business, presentations were offered between voting ballots by different speakers who spoke about their ministries and efforts in the diocese.

Youth missioner Laurie Bickel from Church of the Incarnation talked about how the diocesan mission trip to Asheville, North Carolina transformed her life and brought her closer to God. She said the long drive to Asheville allowed her to get to better know the other young Christians on the trip who attend other churches. She said they formed tight bonds through silly jokes and loud laughter. Bickel also felt the power of service to others and that she now knew working for Jesus could have a big impact. “I’m so blessed to be transformed by the Holy Spirit,” she said of her trip.

The Episcopal Foundation of Dallas awarded St. Luke’s in Denison, led by the Rev. Jacob Nichols, as this year’s Trustee’s Award recipient of $25,000 for their ministry and impact, particularly that of their food pantry.

Church planter, the Rev. Drew Crowson, who is planting a church in Celina gave an update on his progress. The church will be called Church of the Advent and will have its first service on the first day of Advent in 2026. He asked for churches to contribute prayers, people to attend the first service, and money to help them pay for the construction of a church building on property the diocese corporation bought for the church. The property is 10 acres and Crowson is also looking to procure a couple of donkeys to get an agriculture exemption until the church is built. He said Celina is growing in droves and in the next few years projections are the city will have a population of 250,000, the size of Frisco. Crowson has 30 people committed to planting the church and they meet regularly in his living room. Their vison for the church is a model for discipleship, and to produce people who love their neighbors as themselves. “We are going to invest in deep friendships, and nurture strong, caring parish families. We are going to offer a family of friendship.”

For those who want to be an active investor in the planting of Church of the Advent, Online giving can be done here. Alternatively, please make checks payable to St. Paul’s Episcopal church with “ADVENT CELINA” in the memo line, and mail them to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 420 S. Coit Rd. Prosper, Texas, 75078. Crowson said they would be grateful for any amount and asked churches to consider on half of one percent of their mission budget. “If you have a little bit or have a lot, it’s all loaves and fishes,” he said.

Gateway of Grace, the Rev. Samira Page talked about the refugees who escaped violence, and persecution and the successes they have had during their time here. Getting training, going to school, entering the workforce and flourishing in their new lives. The journey of refugees is difficult and scary. “Will I be welcomed? Will my children be welcomed? The answer is always yes at Gateway of Grace. We offer welcome, meeting families basic needs and surrounding them with community. Page quoted Pope Benedict’s reflection of refugees, “The Samaritan does not ask how far his obligations extend, nor about merits of eternal life.” Page went on to talk about a woman, who is in the country legally, and how her husband who checked in with ICE and is now detained. She has a 15-month old child and has no rent, no resources and is in a difficult situation. “These are the people we serve,” Page said.  For those interested Page said she is happy to share more information on refugee challenges or how to help offline since revealing too much information publicly can be dangerous to the refugees.  

The Rt. Rev. Fraser Lawton spoke about APNET, short for the Affiliated Parishes of Northeast Texas, a group of East Texas churches that have united efforts in support, mission, worship, praying, sharing clergy, sharing resources and lifting one another up in hope and grace. The model aims to keep focus on Jesus as they spend time in community with each other through worship, intercessory prayers, formation and mission. The churches include St. Dunstan’s in Mineola, San Marcos in Mount Pleasant, St. Philips in Sulphur Springs, St. William Laud in Pittsburg and St. Francis in Winnsboro.  “Our greatest success has been relationship,” Lawton said. “We have now become a family. We know one another and we know what’s going on. We have worked very hard at shifting our emphasis to be around mission, to sharing the Gospel with the world and not simply about keeping the doors open. Our goal is to live the Gospel in the places where we live.”

The Rev. Matthew Olver was asked to speak about where the national Episcopal Church is on marriage doctrinally and how will that look from the pews.

“The Episcopal Church today holds two teachings on marriage, both officially permitted yet theologically contradictory. This situation, which is unique among Anglican provinces, reflects a deliberate decision by the Church to allow “mutual flourishing” between differing convictions, much like the Church of England’s approach to women’s ordination,” he wrote in a paper on the subject. Here are some of the highlights:

Two Teachings on Marriage

• Between a man and a woman
  Exclusive, lifelong, and open to procreation
• Rooted in Scripture and revelation, beyond the Church’s authority to redefine

2. Revised Doctrine: Marriage is:

• Between any two adults
• Exclusive and lifelong
• Not necessarily open to procreation

Both are recognized and protected within the Episcopal Church.

Canonical Provisions

• Clergy Discretion: Any cleric may decline to solemnize or bless any marriage (Canon I.18.7).
• Non-Discrimination: Beliefs about marriage cannot affect ordination, employment, or deployment (Canon III.1.3–4).
• Episcopal Oversight: Bishops holding a traditional view must delegate oversight for same-sex marriages to another bishop (Canon I.19.3; III.12.3.a). These measures protect clergy and laity of both convictions.

The 1979 Book of Common Prayer and 2027 Prayer Book Revision

The 1979 Book of Common Prayer has been memorialized and permanently authorized for use in every diocese. Even if new rites are added in 2027, parishes may continue using the 1979 edition indefinitely.

Summary

• The Episcopal Church now lives with two doctrines of marriage, held in ongoing tension.
• Both traditional and revised views are canonically protected.
• The 1979 Prayer Book remains authorized for all use, ensuring continuity of worship and theology.

The end of an era: Clergy came to the podium to express their gratitude and love for Bishop Sumner. The Rev. Tom Smith appealed to Sumner’s sense of humor and lightly roasted him for his ability to clean out his email box with short replies that sometimes were cryptic with only a letter or two. He also spoke about Sumner’s leadership of young and new clergy. Raising up young, ordained leadership in the church was a cornerstone of Sumner’s time in Dallas where he helped recruit, educate and ordain around 50 clergy.

“George has been incredible at trusting us, giving us the keys to the car, saying here you go, you are ready, it’s your turn to drive,” Smith said.  “He trusted us to do our jobs as priests, deacons. One person said, ‘I owe so much to that dude. Basically, my whole calling, career, parish, housing, family life, and whatever my future holds in TEC – are all linked to George.’” 

Cultural diversity in the diocese is a hallmark of Sumner’s episcopacy, a lifelong love of other cultures that started in his early clergy days when he served in Tanzania and with Native American congregations. The Rev. Samira Page said that Sumner loved people and noted that under his leadership the diocese grew in diversity by welcoming new clergy from Pakistan, Kenya, India and Cuba. And he wove them into the fabric of diocesan life by appointing them to leadership roles on the Commission on Ministry, Stanton Institute and other boards.  “There is his ministry of presence. If his schedule allows, he is there – at every cultural celebration across our diocese. From Las Posadas with our Latino congregations to multicultural prayer meetings, to moments of joy and lament within our ethnic communities – Bishop Sumner shows up to listen, to celebrate, to pray, to share life with his people.

“He is a man of genuine care, who sees people as individuals made in the image of God. He is a man of humility and servant leadership who leads not from above but alongside. He is a man of vision and presence, whose missionary spirit make space for every cultural story.  Bishop Sumner and Stephanie, on behalf of the ethnic clergy and congregations of this diocese, we thank you for your care, your humility, your presence, and your courage to make room for all of us. You have modeled a shepherd who gathers the flock not by power, but by love.”

Price also gave thanks to Bishop Sumner for his incredible leadership particularly during the difficult days of Covid and how Sumner made hard decisions with the intent of keeping people alive. Price also spoke about the bishop’s practice of writing fresh sermons for the scores of ordination homilies he gave and made sure the sermons were relevant to the person and context. And he marveled at Sumner’s ability to take an image, something from literature or a movie and make the Gospel come through it. But mostly Price said he loved Sumner’s heart for people. “George Sumner, this guy cannot hold a grudge, sometimes I would say ‘you really ought to be upset about this.’ He’s one of the most forgiving, tender-hearted, compassionate, merciful men, I’ve ever known.  Even now I feel like I continue to learn how to be a man in Christ from you (Sumner).”

Deacon Carrie Headington also spoke to honor the ministry of Sumner’s wife, Stephanie Hodgkins whose quiet ministry uplifted many.  “You have navigated the Texas roads with great aplomb and as you visited every congregation you encouraged us, you listened to us, you saw us, you drew out the best in us, and you saw our potential. You connected people with similar interests, and you could see the potential partnerships in Kingdom work, and made it happen. You brought Open Table to us, an innovative wrap-around ministry caring for those who needed help breaking the cycle of poverty. … you learned Spanish, hosted many scholars and friends from around the Anglican communion, brought your spiritual wisdom to the Stanton Center classes and beyond. You have loved our clergy spouses deeply, wept with us, celebrated with us, you have communed with us. You have loved us. Thank you and we love you”

As convention concluded the remembrance of Sumner’s words in his address brought closure and an encouraging nod to the episcopacy to come. “Memory of what has preceded is now committed to God’s memory, blessedly better than my own.  An era can end, and we look ahead, uniquely as Christians, confident that what comes next is part of the same enterprise, which was not ultimately ours.

And as always, Sumner offered encouragement and trust. “I am very confident in, and expectant of, the faithfulness and creativity of our new bishop and his team, and what all of you will bring to ministry in this new moment.”