Governance
At all levels of the church, decision-making is shared by bishops, clergy, and laypeople. At the church-wide level, The Episcopal Church is governed by the General Convention, a bicameral legislative body that meets every three years. For more information on church-wide governance in The Episcopal Church, click HERE.
In the Diocese of Oklahoma, we are led by our bishop, The Rt. Rev. Poulson Reed. We are governed by elected leaders on our Diocesan Council and Standing Committee, according to our Diocesan Constitution and Canons. Our Diocese meets in an annual Diocesan Convention to learn, take counsel, and make decisions for the Diocese. Each congregation and institution also has its own governance, shared by clergy and lay leadership in partnership with our Diocese.
Diocesan Council serves as the Board of Directors for the Diocese and, as such, has general supervision of all business affairs, properties, and finances of the Diocese when the Convention is not in session (The Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma Canon 1.2).
In November 2010, the Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma and the Annual Synod of the Diocese of Uruguay ratified a formal Companion Diocesan Covenant. The covenant seeks to live out our ministry in various ways, upholding the notion that neither Diocese shall be considered the “contributor” or “recipient,” but, rather, mutual partners. Our Dioceses are working together on various initiatives that address the following areas: financial support, mission, spiritual/fellowship, clergy and lay leadership development, and parish-to-parish relationships.
Learn more about our Companion Diocese HERE.
Standing Committee
The Standing Committee certifies Candidates for admission to Holy Orders and Ordination, acts as the Ecclesiastical Authority when the Diocese is without a Bishop, and serves upon request as the Bishop’s council of advice (The Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma Canon 1.3).
Susan Urbach
The Rev. Tom Dahlman
Morgan Phares
The Rev. Beverly Rodgers
Alane Laughlin
The Rev. Sean Ekberg
Diocesan Council
Diocesan Council serves as the Board of Directors for the Diocese and, as such, has general supervision of all business affairs, properties, and finances of the Diocese when the Convention is not in session (The Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma Canon 1.2).
Executive Committee of Diocesan Council
The Rt. Rev. Poulson Reed
Diocesan Bishop, Chair
Molly Tolbert
Co-Chancellor of the Diocese
Gary Derrick
Chancellor of the Diocese
Henry Baer
Treasurer of the Diocese
The Rev. Andrew Johnson
Vice-Chairman
Regional Diocesan Council Members
Northeast Region
The Rev. Kay Boman-Harvey
Jeffery Gilmore
Northwest Region
Dr. Steve McKeever
OKC Region
Dr. David Coffman
The Rev. Andrew Johnson
Southeast Region
The Rev. Janie Koch
Kyle Craighead
Southwest Region
The Rev. John Rule
Jack Donnellan
Tulsa Region
Andy Richardson
The Rev. Dr. William Carlin
ECW President
Heather Sessing
Diocesan Finance Committee
The Diocesan Finance Committee supervises the financial affairs of the Diocese, reviews the Diocese’s periodic and audited annual financial statements, and reports annually to the Diocesan Convention on the Diocese’s overall financial activities and financial position (The Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma Canon 1.2).
The Rt. Rev. Poulson Reed
Diocesan Bishop, Chair
Will Buchanan
Chief Financial Officer and Canon for Finance & Administration
Lesli Graft
Secretary of the Finance Committee
Linda Pruitt
Richard Clements
Nathan Sheldon
Henry Baer
Glenn Bonner
Larry Comstock
We are the Episcopal Church in Oklahoma.