Standing Committee
On November 2, 2024, our Bishop, Bishop Sean W. Rowe was installed as the 28th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church! Our pride and our prayers follow him! In this ‘in between” time of our governance of our diocese, the Standing Committees join the staff and all leaders of our congregations in continuing our faithful vision and discerning what’s next for our diocese and its Episcopal oversight.
The goals of the Standing Committees are:
- To act as the bishop’s Council of Advice
- To consent to bishop election processes as provided for by canon
- To make determinations on those in the ordination process as provided for by canon
- To act as the ecclesiastical authority in the absence of an active bishop diocesan
- Represent people of the diocese in relation to the bishop.
Standing Committee Members
The Standing Committee consists of eight members – four clerics and four lay persons. Each annual Diocesan Convention elects one cleric and one lay person to serve four year terms.
The Rev. Luke Fodor, President (2026)
Denise Clarke-Merriweather (2026)
The Rev. Daniel Pinti (2027, Vice-President)
Bruce Davidson (2027)
The Rev. Diana Leiker (2028)
James Isaac (2028)
The Rev. Ann Tillman (2029)
Elisabeth Brauza-Hughes (2029)
The Rev. Luke Fodor, President
The Rev. Luke Fodor is Rector of St. Luke’s, Jamestown, Vicar at Chapel of the Good Shepherd, and the Dean of Chautauqua-Cattaraugus. He has three graduate degrees from the University of Durham in England, New York University, and Bexley Hall in Columbus, OH. In WNY, he serves as the President of the Standing Committee, Co-Chair of the Joint Board of Examining Chaplains, Chair of Diocesan Council and is a two-time General Convention deputy.
He came to Jamestown with his wife Willow and their two boys (Aidan and Kieran, both presently in high school) from Long Island in 2014 and since that time he has thrown himself into serving the community well beyond the walls of his church. Under his leadership, St. Luke’s has taken on the operation of the Jamestown Farmers Market and has started the immigration support effort, New Neighbors Coalition, which works with asylum seekers and refugees. He has increased stewardship by 37% in his tenure and tripled the annual budget from $425,000 to $1.2 million. Before ordination, he worked for 8 years on the staff of the Presiding Bishop and for Episcopal Relief & Development at Episcopal Church Center in NYC.
When not engaged in ministry or leading in community initiatives, Luke is likely to be found swimming in Chautauqua Lake, in the saddle of his bike or pounding the pavement training for his next triathlon or race. He has completed two Ironman length triathlons—swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 and running 26.1 miles.
Elisabeth Brauza-Hughes
Liz has spent the last 23 years working in paid and unpaid positions within the Episcopal Church. Currently, she works as the Administrative Assistant to the Episcopal Women’s History Project, and the Data & Information Manager in the Diocese of Southern Ohio.
In this diocese, she has served in a variety of roles, including on Diocesan Council, as chair of the Resolutions Committee, and as a Deputy/Alternate to General Convention. She also served on the churchwide Taskforce to Revise the Parochial Report Finance Page from 2022-2024.
Denise Clarke-Merriweather
Denise’s faith journey includes her childhood experiences at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Queens, NY where she was confirmed along with her younger brother. Going to church in those days was a matter of parental expectation requiring discipline as an established routine. Overall, instilled values have helped shape her commitment to be of service to others. Her initial work experience as a high school student with children at the St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Summer Day Camp in Brooklyn, NY, foreshadowed her professional career in the field of education. As a former high school principal, Denise has extensive experience in data analysis for the development of strategic plans, resulting in the use of federal and state financial resources to maximize organizational outcomes.
As a member of St. Philip’s, Denise has served as a delegate to convention, vestry member, vacation bible school teacher, and pastoral search committee member. She currently serves on the Commission to Dismantle Racism and Discrimination.
A wife and proud mother of three adult children, she enjoys spending time with her three granddaughters by reading, completing science projects, playing board games, working on puzzles, and watching movies!
An avid reader, Denise is the founder of the Book Club ~ Sisters group and publishes editorials within the Buffalo Criterion Newspaper and the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York E-Newsletter.
Bruce Davidson
Bruce has been the past Warden at Calvary(3 terms) and St. John’s, Sommerville, NJ(2 terms), Senior Project Manager Linde, Union Carbide(27 years retired), Group Leader RESULTS of Western New York(40 years active volunteer), Presently manage beachfront properties in Tybee Island, Georgia(14 years) and deliver Meals on Wheels in Amherst, NY (10 years).
Having spent 8 years on Diocesan Council and 14 years as chair of the Diocesan Stewardship Committee, this exposure has prepared me for the Standing Committee.
With our Diocese transitioning to a new Bishop over the next year, we have a special opportunity to reinvent our collective vision for our Diocese. I am excited with the chance to participate in this journey with my sisters and brothers in Christ’s name.
James B. Isaac
Jim is a lifelong Episcopalian, currently a member of St. James in Batavia. He has served God’s church in the past as an acolyte, lay reader, chalice bearer, Lay Eucharistic Minister, vestry member, and Senior Warden. Jim is currently in his third term on the Standing Committee, where he has served as president in the past. Jim is blessed to serve with his wife Kim for 45+ years. The Isaac’s have been blessed with two sons, two daughters-in-law, and two baby granddaughters. Having more blessings in life than Jim can count, including a second home in the Adirondack Mountains, he always says “God never calls me, he just puts me in a place where I can’t say no.”
The Rev. Diana Leiker
I am a retired art teacher, mother of 4 and grandmother of 9. When I was ordained as a Vocational Deacon in 2016, I was assigned to St. James, Batavia and served there and other churches in the GRI until recently. I also serve at St. Peter’s, Eggertsville part time. I am on the Standing Committee for the second time, a member of the Commission to Dismantle Racism and Discrimination and am a voice without vote on the Commission on Ministry.
My ministries have included working with Kairos Prison ministry and the refugee resettlement agencies Journey’s End and Jewish Family Services. I co-mentor Healing Circles and coordinate a Respite Program through the Alzheimer’s Association. Currently I am involved with the Cathedral Ministry Center and work with the unhoused population around St. Paul’s. I am also the Arch Deacon of the Diocese.
The Rev. Ann Tillman
This is an exciting time of transition for our Diocese and, having served as Rector of St. Matthias’, East Aurora, for 13 years, Dean of the Southern Erie Deanery since 2017, Diocesan Council member from 2012-2015, Commission to Dismantle Racism & Discrimination member since 2018, and Joint Board of Examining Chaplain member since the fall of 2024, I believe I have a good understanding of our Diocesan gifts and challenges. I also believe that my experience in other Dioceses prior to coming to WNY gives me a broad view of the larger Episcopal Church. I prayerfully offer a deep love of God and God’s Church, a collaborative approach to mission and ministry, and organizational and communication skills to the table. I look forward to working with our esteemed team as we move faithfully into a new era.
The Rev. Dr. Daniel Pinti
The Rev. Dr. Daniel Pinti is Priest-in-Charge at St. Peter’s-Eggertsville. Since his ordination to the priesthood in 2011, he has served at several parishes in the diocese as well as at St. Paul’s Cathedral.
At the diocesan level, prior to his election to the Standing Committee, he served terms on both the Diocesan Council and the Commission on Ministry.
He grew up in the Episcopal Church, in the Diocese of Ohio and later the Diocese of the Rio Grande, and while in the lay order did everything from serve on Vestries to participate in rector search committees to teach children’s and adult formation classes.
Outside of the Church, Father Dan is Professor of English at Niagara University, and if he’s not working or enjoying time with his family he’s almost certainly playing the guitar.