Bishop and Council

Elected Members:
Lawrence H. "Buddy" Adams (2012)
Rev. Kevin Brown (2013)
Fred K. Beeson (2011)
Rev. Terry Street (2012)
L. Hunt Campbell (2010)
Rev. Colenzo Hubbard (2013)
Michael Jaeger (2012)
Rev. Bonnie Malone (2010)
Rev. Gary Meade (2011)
Rev. Mark Rutenbar (2011)
Thomas Scott (2010)
Christina See (2013)
Rev. Terry Street (2012)
Term expiration dates are indicated in parentheses.

 The Bishop serves the Diocese as its executive head. Working with the Council of the Diocese, they jointly have and exercise all powers of the Convention between meetings of the Convention within the constraints of the Constitution and Canons.

The Policies of the Diocese are determined by the Council and shall be implemented by the Bishop and the program structures of the Diocese. Among its many canonical duties, the Council shall:

• provide for the organization of the program and work of the Diocese;
• see to the administration and disbursement of funds of the Diocese consistent with such budget as may be adopted by the Convention;
• prepare and submit to the Convention an annual budget to carry out the program and work of the Diocese, for the support of the Episcopate, for Diocesan Administration and for support of The Episcopal Church;
• fix the compensation and allowances of all persons paid from Diocesan funds, subject only to change by the Convention;
• provide an annual report to Convention and request reports from Parishes, Missions, Departments, Organizations or Organizations of the Diocese of West Tennessee as deemed necessary; and
• authorize the expenditure of excess receipts or the reduction or elimination items from the budget if receipts are less than those previously anticipated

Standing Committee

Elected Members:
Rev. Reynolds Cheney (2010)
Mackie Gober (2011)
Loni Harris (2013)
Rev. John Leach (2013)
Rev. Andy MacBeth (2011)
Jim McGehee (2012)
Rev. Bill Murray (2012)
Scott Haight (2010)
Term expiration dates are indicated in parentheses.

Each diocese has a Standing Committee that has certain areas of responsibility described in the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church. Among these responsibilities are the following:

• Giving of consent on property matters and on the formation of new parishes and congregations;
• Determining, as specified, matters relating to canonical discipline of members of the clergy;
• Certifying that all canonical requirements for ordination have been met by the candidates for the deaconate and priesthood;
• Consenting to the election of bishops for the Episcopal Church;
• Serving as the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese as provided by the Canons in certain cases when one of the diocesan bishops is not available, and
• Serve as a council of advice at the bishop's request.