The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Texas consists of three priests and three lay communicants within the diocese, elected by Council for three-year terms. It functions as a committee of advice to the bishop and is called at the bishop’s discretion, or it may meet of its own accord. The Standing Committee gives consent for persons to become candidates for Holy Orders, consent for ordinations and consent to elections of bishops in other dioceses. When there is no bishop or bishop coadjutor, the Standing Committee becomes the ecclesiastical authority of the Diocese.
(Canonical requirements: elected at Council by ballot; Nominations Committee to submit two names per position; 3-year term; one priest and one lay person elected every Council; if full term served has to lay out one year; meets typically 6 times a year at Camp Allen, the Diocesan Center, or Diocesan Council.)
Staff Assistant: Ana Gonzales, EDOT Administrator to Commission on Ministry
To Council 2026
The Rev. Eileen O’Brien, St. James’, Austin, President
Jennifer McGowan, St. John the Divine, Houston, Secretary
To Council 2027
The Rev. Bill Carroll, Trinity, Longview
Dr. Barbara Evans-Chowning, All Saints’, Fort Worth (Rep to Noms Cmte ’25-’26)
To Council 2028
Robert McDonald, All Saints’, Austin
The Rev. Whitney Kirby, St. Andrew’s School, Austin
