Bishop's Advisory Committees

A Note from Bishop Franklin

The suggestion for these advisory committees comes from the College of Bishops, which urges newly elected bishops to form committees so that they may learn about issues in the diocese, and set a direction for the Diocese at the beginning of their new episcopate.

I will be appointing new committees as the work of these first committees comes to an end.  Once a committee is in place it meets, usually without me, then prepares a final report for me on the issues it has addressed.  It is then my role as bishop to decide whether or not to implement the suggestions of the committee. As is my style, I will move toward implementation after consulting many people in the diocese.

For example, the Deacon's Advisory Committee has already completed its work under the leadership of Archdeacon Gerald Hilfiker.  I was present for only one of their meetings.  The committee completed a book of guidelines for deacons in the diocese.  They showed me a draft.  Once I had approved, the draft was discussed by a meeting of all the deacons of the diocese who were invited to consider the draft.  They received the guidelines, and these guidelines have become policy for our diocese.

It is my hope that over time many clergy and lay leaders of the diocese will serve on one or more of these committees.

Clergy Collegiality

Chaired by

College, University & 20s/30s Ministries

Task: To develop structures and programming to support campus ministrry and 20s & 30s ministries throughout the diocese. 

• The Rev. Vicki Zust - St. Paul's, Harris Hill (Convener)
• Ms. Liz Brauza, St. Paul's, Harris Hill
• The Rev. Dan Pinti, St. Aidan's, Alden
• The Rev. Sean Leonard, St. Mark's, Orchard Park
• Ms. Allie Townsend, St. Paul's Cathedral, Buffalo

Deacons

Task: To develop a model for the ministry of deacons throughout the diocese.

• Archdeacon Jerry Hilfiker -  St. Paul's, Springville (Convener)
• Deacon Patrick Bradley - St. Peter's, Niagara Falls
• Deacon Lucinda "Pete" Cornell - Ascension, Buffalo & Good Shepherd, Buffalo
• Deacon Milania Lullo - St. Simon's, Buffalo
• Deacon Cathy Smith - St. Luke's, Jamestown
• Deacon Tom Tripp - St. Peter's, Eggertsville 

The Episcopal Diocese of WNY's Deacons' Customary, published in January 2012, was a direct result of this group's work. 

Ecumenical & Interfaith Relations

Committee Members

• • The Rev. John Paul Boyer, Convener (St. Paul's, Stafford)
  • The Rev. Sarah Buxton-Smith (St. Andrew's, Buffalo)
  • The Rev. Deacon Kim Greene ( Ascension & Good Shepherd, Buffalo)
  • The Rev. Isaac Ihiasota (St. Stephen’s, Niagara Falls)
  • The Rev. Joseph Kozlowski (Christ Church, Lockport)
  • The Rev. Jack Marshall (St. Michael's, Buffalo0
  • The Rev. Daniel Pinti (St. Aiden's, Alden)
  • The Rev. Stephen Smith (St. Andrew's, Buffalo)
  • The Rev. Frieda VanBaalen Webb (Holy Communion, Lakeview)

Education & Formation of Lay and Ordained Leaders

Task: To formulate a diocesan plan for Christian education and formation.

The Very Rev. Barbara Price - St. Peter's, Eggertsville (Convener)
The Rev. Glenn Fuller - St. Mark's, North Tonawanda
Deacon Jerry Hilfiker - St. Paul's, Springville
The Very Rev. Judith Lee - St. Andrew's, Burt/St. John's, Willson
Deacon Milania Lullo - St. Mark's, Orchard Park

Healing Ministries

Task: To examinehow healing ministries might play a larger role in our congregations and throughout the diocese as a whole.

• Ms. Candy Stiles - Advent Kenmore (Convener)
• Deacon Penny Foster - Advent, Kenmore
• The Rev. Harry Grace - St. Mark's, Buffalo
• Ms. Vicki Johnstone - St. Stephen's, Niagara Falls
• Mr. Thomas Lunt - St. Simon's, Buffalo
• Mr. Damon Piatove - St. Peter's, Eggertsville
• Deacon Lee Rose - St. Mark's, Orchard Park

Preservation of Historic Churches

Task: To develop strategies for the preservation of our aging church buildings.

• The Rev. Sarah Buxton-Smith - St. Andrew's, Buffalo (Convener)
• Dr. Alex Bitterman, Rochester Institute of Technology
• Ms. Alma Brown - St. Paul's Cathderal
• Mr. Will Clarkson - Trinity, Buffalo
• Mr. Frederick Houston, St. Paul's Cathedral
• Dr. Alfred Price - St. Peter's, Eggertsville

Retired Clergy, Spouses & Surviving Spouses

• The Rev. Jim Massie (Convener)
• The Rev. Andy Newbert
• The Rev. Lorene Potter
• The Rev. Bill Wipfler 

Structure & Management

This committee is charged with thinking through the baisc structures of the diocese and the deanery. As such, they have been asked to examine both staffing and other resources with the goal of aiding the Bishop as he seeks to develop both human and other resources to best allow the diocese to serve its congregations and people. 

• The Rev. Jerre Feagin, Convener
• The Rev. Thomas Broad - Grace Church, Randolph
• The Rev. Ethan Cole - Calvary, Williamsville
• The Rev. Phil Dougharty - St. John's-Grace, Buffalo
• The Very Rev. Earle King - St. Martin's, Grand Island
• The Rev. Cam Miller - Trinity Church, Buffalo
• The Very Rev. Colleen O'Connor - St. Mark's, LeRoy
• Deacon Jason Rayburg-Elliott - St. Paul's Cathedral, Buffalo
• Ms. Josie Robbins - St. Philip's, Buffalo
• Deacon Thomas Tripp - St. Peter's, Eggertsville
• Ms. Catherine Way - St. Luke's, Jamestown
• The Rev. Eric Williams - St. Luke's, Jamestown