Election Results for Diocesan Leadership Positions
The following individuals were elected to diocesan leadership positions at the 151st Diocesan Convention in 2019.
For a complete listing of the members of the boards, ministries, and commissions of the Diocese, please see our leadership directory>
Commission on Ministry
The Commission works to strengthen ministry, both lay and ordained, with emphasis on supporting individuals in an ordination process and on continuing education for clergy and laity. Members are appointed by the Bishop and confirmed by a vote of the Diocese’s annual Convention. Members serve until their successors are nominated and confirmed.
Bishop Duncan-Probe nominated and Convention 2019 confirmed:
The Rev. Paul Frolick, Chair
Mr. Charles Abraham
The Rev. Toppie Bates
The Rev. Deacon Shelly Banner
The Rev. Megan Castellan
Ms. Maureen Fellows
The Very Rev. Jeanne Hansknecht
Ms. Ruthie Koerts
Ms. Lee Wakefield
Diocesan Board
The Diocesan Board is the policy-making body of the Diocese and is responsible for articulating and formulating its mission strategy. It has responsibility for all programmatic activities including the preparation, administration, and oversight of the diocesan budget. This group also serves as the Board of Trustees for all Diocesan Corporations.
The Diocesan Board has ten members: the Bishop, four elected members, three appointed members, a Standing Committee representative, and the treasurer. Members must be at least 20 years of age and confirmed communicants of The Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Central New York. The Diocesan Board typically meets the third Tuesday of each month at 1:00 p.m. at the diocesan office.
Bishop Duncan-Probe nominated and Convention 2019 confirmed:
The Rev. Jon M. White (Class of 2020)
The Rev. Molly Payne-Hardin (Class of 2022)
Convention 2019 elected:
Ms. Debra L. Barker (Class of 2022)
The Rev. Julie Calhoun-Bryant (Class of 2020)
Mr. Ron Cole (Class of 2020)
The Very Rev. Christine J. Day (Class of 2022)
Disciplinary Board
The Disciplinary Board is the body that deals with all matters regarding the ecclesiastical discipline of members of the clergy (other than the bishop diocesan). The Disciplinary Board is governed by the relevant provisions of Title IV of the Canons of the General Convention of The Episcopal Church and detailed in Diocesan Canon XXVII.
The Board consists of five clergy members and four lay members. Clergy members must be canonically and geographically resident in the Diocese, and can be either active or retired. Lay members must be adult communicants in good standing and geographically resident in the Diocese.
The term for Disciplinary Board members is three years. The Disciplinary Board meets as needed.
Bishop DeDe Duncan-Probe nominated and Convention 2019 confirmed:
The Rev. Deacon Shelly Banner (Class of 2021)
The Rev. Julie Calhoun-Bryant (Class of 2020)
The Very Rev. Wanda Copeland (Intake Officer)
The Rev. Kate Day (Class of 2020)
Ms. Penny Dugas (Class of 2020)
Mr. Lawrence Mathews (Intake Officer)
Ms. Laurie Sanderson (Class of 2020)
Dr. Jack Wohlers (Intake Officer)
Convention 2019 elected:
The Rev. Holly Eden (Class of 2022)
Ms. Courtenay McKeon (Class of 2022)
Foundation of the Diocese of Central New York
The Foundation of the Diocese of Central New York supports the religious, educational and charitable work of Episcopal parishes and institutions in the diocese through grants and loans. Foundation Directors also advise the Diocesan Board on matters related to church property; in this capacity, the Foundation Board carries out the functions formerly assigned to the Property Committee of the Diocesan Board.
Directors are elected by Convention annually on nomination of the Bishop.
Bishop DeDe Duncan-Probe nominated and Convention 2019 confirmed:
Ms. Maureen Anderson (Class of 2022)
The Very Rev. Cathy Carpenter (Class of 2022)
The Rev. Holly Eden (Class of 2022)
The Rev. Linda Logan(Class of 2022)
The Rev. Philip Major (Class of 2022)
Mr. Paul Regan, Esq. (Class of 2022)
Mr. Henry Wakefield (Class of 2022)
Foundation of the Episcopal Church at Cornell
Article X of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Foundation for the Episcopal Church at Cornell: “(b) Three persons designated by the Annual Diocesan Convention of the Diocese of Central New York.”
Article XI of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Foundation of the Episcopal Church at Cornell: “…One member from each class of (b) as described in Article X above, shall be elected each year.”
Bishop DeDe Duncan-Probe nominated and Convention 2019 confirmed:
Mr. Michael R. Roman (Class of 2022)
The Rev. Richard Schaal (Class of 2021)
Deputies to the 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church
The legislative days of the 80th General Convention will be June 30, 2021 through July 9, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Convention 2019 elected:
Clergy Deputies
The Rev. Deacon Shelly Banner
The Rev. Dr. Gerard Beritela
The Rev. Brooks A. Cato
The Very Rev. Wanda R. Copeland
Lay Deputies
Ms. Karen Anderson
Ms. Kate Bell
Mr. Adam A. Ferguson
Ms. Felicity Anne Hallanan
Clergy Alternate Deputies
The Rev. Megan Castellan
The Rev. Paul Frolick
The Rev. Daniel Handschy
The Rev. Molly Payne-Hardin
Lay Alternate Deputies
Dr. Sandra D. Michael
Ms. Pamela Talbott
Standing Committee
The Standing Committee consists of eight members: four clergypersons and four laypersons.
Members must be at least 20 years of age and confirmed communicants of The Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Central New York. The Standing Committee usually meets five times per year, typically on the second Tuesday of the month at 10:00 a.m. at the diocesan office, and one meeting immediately following Convention.
Responsibilities include:
- Review and consent to all transactions involving the sale, mortgage or lease of church-owned real estate.
- Approval of the election of bishops anywhere in The Episcopal Church, which leads to a concern for the structure and distribution of authority in the Church.
- Approval of persons for ordination to the diaconate and priesthood, which leads to a concern for ministry throughout the Church.
- Acting as a council of advice for the bishop in such matters as she may choose to bring before the Committee; and on matters which the Diocese, through the Standing Committee, wishes to bring before the bishop.
- Acting as the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese in the case of prolonged absence, disability, or resignation of the diocesan bishop, if there be no other bishop to whom authority has been temporarily given.
- Acting as the investigative body in the process of ecclesiastical discipline as specified in the Canons of The Episcopal Church.
Convention 2019 elected:
Ms. Cynthia Hopp Adamowsky (Class of 2023)
The Rev. J. Brad Benson (Class of 2023)
The Rev. Jennifer A. Kenna (Class of 2022)
Delegates to the Triennial Meeting of the Women of the Church
The Triennial Meeting of the Women of the Church happens concurrent to the General Convention of The Episcopal Church.
Convention 2019 elected:
Ms. Penny Dugas
Ms. Gail Jones
Ms. Clinnie Poole