Leadership at Christ Episcopal Church

Altar of Christ Church surrounded by lilies preparing for Easter service.

The Bishop's Committee Christ Episcopal Church, Mexia

The Bishop’s Committee is composed of the Senior and Junior Wardens and three committee members. It provides administrative and pastoral direction to the members (clergy and laity) of Christ Episcopal Church, Mexia. Its duties are to act in accordance with a majority of members’ best interests on the following church issues:

Establishing and prioritizing authorized external and internal parish ministries.
Approval of regular budgets and plans.
Taking care of parish buildings.
Choosing individuals to fill parish leadership positions.

The Bishop’s Committee meets on the third Sunday of each month in the Parish Hall immediately after the morning worship service. Special meetings may be called at any time to deal with special issues. Meetings are open to the public, and members are encouraged to attend. Agenda items should be submitted to the Senior Warden no later than one week prior to the meeting at which they are to be discussed. Any church member may ask any committee member to speak on their behalf or on behalf of a proposal they wish to forward.

Bishop's Committee Leadership

Bishop's (Senior) Warden

Richard O'Dell ([email protected])

Senior warden responsibilities in an Episcopal parish will vary by parish. The duties depend on the congregation’s traditions and culture, the rector’s personality and leadership style, and what the warden’s community requires. Standard across all parishes is that a warden’s responsibility is to ensure worship services continue if the vicar is absent or unable to perform the vicar's duties. Despite a senior warden's collaborative relationship with a parish vicar, the warden also acts as an advisor. The senior warden can share with the vicar issues or concerns that members of the congregation may face. Senior wardens are not appointed to simply “rubber-stamp” a vicar’s plans or decisions. Again, the duties of a church warden depend on the parish where the senior warden serves: duties might include keeping registries of baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and burials. Some parishes ask their senior wardens to oversee all legal and financial matters that arise, such as determining compensation and managing the parish’s discretionary fund. They may also suggest different investment vehicles for the parish. Senior wardens may also work alongside junior wardens and manage parish property.

People's (Junior) Warden

Brett Fewell ([email protected])

The People's (or Junior) Warden is the second lay leader in an Episcopal or Anglican church. The warden is traditionally responsible for the building and maintenance and is also an assistant to the Senior Warden. The People's Warden attends monthly vestry meetings and assists the vicar and Bishop's Warden in helping the vestry identify the congregation's mission and goals. This warden sets a tone of positive leadership and model of Life in Christ and seeks positive solutions to conflict and problems. They help newcomers get connected to existing groups. If the congregation considers the People's Warden responsible for the building, there should be a routine maintenance schedule throughout the year. The warden oversees annual safety checks and reviews insurance needs annually with the treasurer and an insurance agent. The People's warden prays daily for the clergy, staff, and fellow members of the congregation. The People's warden nurtures their own prayer life and walks daily with Christ.

Committee Clerk

Amy Fleming ([email protected])

The clerk is a vestry member. The clerk and the parish administrator are responsible for keeping minutes of vestry meetings and parish meetings, correspondence related to vestry business, and maintaining vestry records.

Amy Fleming - Clerk/Secretary for the Bishop's Committee

Re. Karen Pettit - Deacon-in-Charge for Christ Episcopal Church

Vicar

The Rev. Karen J. Pettit ([email protected])

Rev. Pettit serves Christ Episcopal Church, Mexia, as our vicar. A vicar is a priest, serving full-time or part-time, with charge and responsibility for a mission or aided parish, appointed by the bishop for a period of one year, renewable. A vicar is eligible to become rector when the mission becomes a parish, or when the parish becomes financially independent of the diocese for basic expenses. Under the bishop, a vicar has the same responsibilities as a rector, but does not have tenure. Rev. Pettit also serves as an ex-officio member of the Bishop's Committee. Rev. Pettit has already infected Christ Episcopal Church with her enthusiasm, her sense of dedication, and her love of the Lord and His people. The community on East Commerce Street in Mexia will know that Christ Episcopal Church is alive and active, doing the Lord's work among our neighbors.

Bishop's Committee Members

Norma Thronburg

[email protected]

Keith Turchi

[email protected]

Nolan Maki

[email protected]

Additional Staff and Volunteers Christ Episcopal Church, Mexia

Name	Position	Contact Email
Keith Turchi	Church Treasurer	[email protected]
Linda Anders	Choir Director	[email protected]
Pat Nance	Church Organist
Wanda Fewell	Altar Guild Chair	[email protected]