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September 30, 2026 | View as Webpage

COUNCIL 2027 | NOMINATIONS OPEN OCTOBER 1



The Diocesan Nominating Committee Seeks Clergy and Lay Nominees

for 2027 Election to be held at the 123rd Council of the Diocese of West Texas

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

As we enter this season of nominations for elected offices in the Diocese of West Texas, we hope you and your congregations will prayerfully discern where God is calling you to shine. How are you, or someone in your congregation, being called to make manifest the glory of God? What liberating work is the Holy Spirit beckoning you to be a part of? How might we serve as the light of Christ in the Diocese of West Texas and beyond? 

The Diocese of West Texas has been blessed with the gift of diversity; geographically, culturally, and especially in the beauty and strength of our people. We honor God, each other, and our neighbors when we affirm this blessing of diversity in our nominations. May we foster representation of all our people and convocations at our diocesan council in McAllen this February.

 

Offices to be Filled:

• Standing Committee
• Executive Board    
• Episcopal Church Corporation of West Texas Trustees     
• Sewanee: The University of the South Trustees
• TMI Episcopal Board of Governors

All nominees must be confirmed communicants in good standing.

LATINO + IMMIGRATION MINISTRIES



Hispanic Heritage Month



In her message to the diocese in the latest issue of laVentana, the Rt. Rev. Angela Cortiñas, Bishop Suffragan of West Texas, gave an update on the ways you can get involved in Latino + Immigration Ministries.

"I am so grateful for the outpouring of generosity and love that the diocese has shown to our Latino and immigrant communities. A special thank you to all those who have given and continue to give to our Immigrant Crisis Fund. We have been able to help families in our churches who have been affected and continue to be affected.

I am coming up on two years of being your Bishop Suffragan and I am eternally grateful for the prayers and support from all the dedicated lay and ordained leaders in our parishes and schools. It gives me great joy and fulfillment to be able to serve you and the great people of the Diocese of West Texas."

The Spirit of Giving

The Rev. Stephen Shortess and St. Andrew's, Seguin featured in Torch, Texas Lutheran University

“Ministering to local schools is not just about helping students or getting students to church,” says Shortess. “It is about building a faith-centered, compassionate community where the gospel is lived out in every aspect of life—where our faith as a body of believers at St. Andrew’s ‘goes forth into the world,’ leaving the campus and church doors behind to enter a harvest that is plentiful, to love and serve all God’s people, many of whom are deeply seeking belonging, hope, and encouragement.” Shortess sees the church's on-campus presence as fulfilling a missional role–"meeting both the spiritual and practical needs of a group of people—university students—who are seeking to build their lives during a confusing and formative time in the world. In that regard, it is a blessing to be a blessing.”

A pastoral word to The Episcopal Church from the September 2026

gathering of the House of Bishops