I am pleased to announce that the following persons have agreed to serve as conference deans, effective September 1, 2018:
Terms ending August 31, 2020
Pr. Herb Beyer
, Bluebonnet, Tri-County Cooperative
(Reappointment)
Pr. Don Taylor
, Gulf Coast, retired
(Reappointment)
Pr. Carmen Retzlaff
, Hill Country, New Life, Dripping Springs
Pr. Mike Widner
, Cibolo Creek, Christ the King, Universal City
Terms ending August 31, 2019
Pr. Skip Wachsmann
, Capital North, Lord of Life, Austin
(Reappointment)
Pr. Kathy Gauger
, Alamo, retired
(Reappointment)
Pr. Jessica Cain
, Capital South, Living Word, Buda
Pr. Steve Herzberg
, Rio Grande, Our Saviors, McAllen
Note that New Life, Dripping Springs, where Pastor Retzlaff is serving, recently moved into the Hill Country Conference.
I give thanks to God for the faithful ministry of the outgoing conference deans, and ask that you also find ways to thank them for their leadership in the conferences.
Pr. Mike Coffey
, Capital South, First English, Austin
Pr. Neil Cadle
, Rio Grande, First, Edinburg
Pr. Dick Bremer
, Hill Country, retired
Pr. Paul Miller
, Cibolo Creek, St. Andrew, Canyon Lake
The deans are an extension of the office of the Bishop. In addition to convening deanery meetings, participating in conference leadership and installing rostered ministers, they conduct exit interviews with outgoing rostered ministers, consult on pastoral transitions, and perform other duties on my behalf. I am particularly looking to the committee of deans as strategic thinking partners as we work to implement the strategic directions that grew out of the synod-wide listening process of the last two years. One of the items in those strategic directions calls for conferences to be centers of care and co-learning, so we will explore together how to make that a reality in each of the conferences.
I am also appointing Pr. Greg Gaskamp for a two-year term as special assistant to the bishop for transitional ministers. He will serve as an advisory member of the committee of deans.
At any given time in the Southwestern Texas Synod, there are between 30 and 45 congregations in transition, and there are leaders who are called in some way to provide leadership during that time. There are a significant number of things a congregation in transition needs to do as it plans for its future and determines its capacity to resource new leadership. In this position, Pastor Gaskamp will provide care and promote transitional thinking and behavior among those who provide pastoral leadership in congregationsduring times of transition.
I look forward to our partnership in ministry as we seek to live into our new focus statement -
God's Grace Transforms and connects us - to learn, to love, to lead.
+Peace,
Bishop-elect Sue Briner
