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 (richardo@christchurchmexia.org)

Senior warden responsibilities in an Episcopal parish will vary by parish. His duties depend on his congregation’s traditions and culture, the rector’s personality and leadership style, and what the warden’s community requires. Common across all parishes is a warden’s responsibility to ensure worship services continue if the rector or parish priest is absent or unable to perform his duties. Despite a senior warden's collaborative relationship with a parish rector, he also acts as an advisor. The senior warden can share with the rector issues or concerns that members of the congregation may face. Senior wardens are not appointed to simply “rubber-stamp” a rector’s plans or decisions. Again, the duties of a churchwarden depend on the parish where the senior warden serves: He may keep 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 (brettf@christchurchmexia.org)

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

Committee Clerk

Amy Fleming (amyf@christchurchmexia.org)

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 also serves as a parliamentarian for the meetings of the Bisop's Committee.

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

Deacon-in-Charge

The Rev. Karen J. Pettit (revpettit@christchurchmexia.org)

Rev. Pettit has been assigned to Christ Episcopal Church, Mexia, as our Deacon-in-Charge. A Deacon-in-Charge leads a congregation in worship and most administrative duties. Rev. Pettit serves as an ex-officio member of the Bishop's Committee. As a deacon, Karen is unable to absolve sins, bless people or objects, or consecrate an object, area, or person, but does serve as our Spiritual advisor and director. Karen will serve as Deacon-in-Charge until she is ordained a priest, which is tentatively scheduled for early 2025. 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 of 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

Jodie Maki

jodiem@christchurchmexia.org

Keith Turchi

keitht@christchurchmexia.org

Alan Dolezal

aland@christchurchmexia.org

Additional Staff and Volunteers Christ Episcopal Church, Mexia

Name	Position	Contact Email
Keith Turchi	Church Treasurer	keitht@christchurchmexia.org
Linda Anders	Choir Director	lindaa@christchurchmexia.org
Wanda Fewell	Altar Guild Chair	wandaf@christchurchmexia.org