Diocesan Council
A body of elected clergy and lay representatives, Diocesan Council oversees and shapes diocesan program between meetings of Diocesan Convention. Diocesan Council usually meets at the Cathedral Center at 4pm on the second Thursday on each month. Following is a listing of representatives including those elected by Diocesan Convention, and those elected by each of the diocese’s 10 geographic deaneries.
Diocesan Council Members
Chair
The Right Rev. John Harvey Taylor
Bishop Suffragan
The Right Reverend Diane Jardine Bruce
Secretary of Convention/Recording Secretary
Canon Steve Nishibayashi
Treasurer of the Diocese
Canon Andy Tomat
Diocesan President of ECW
Ms Christine Budzowski
Chancellor of the Diocese
Canon Richard Zevnik
Representative from the General Convention Deputation
Ms Kathryn Nishibayashi
Representatives from Standing Committee
Clergy: The Reverend Kay Sylvester
St. Paul’s Church Tustin, CA
Lay: Dr. Anne Wohlcke
Representatives from Corporation of the Diocese
Clergy: The Reverend Nancy Frausto
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church Laguna Beach, CA
Lay: Mr. Ravi Verma
Members Elected by Diocesan Convention
Clergy: The Reverend George Okusi (2020)
St. John’s Church Costa Mesa, CA
Lay: Mr. Dave Moreno (2020)
Clergy: The Reverend Dr. Barbara R. Stewart (2019)
Lay: Mr. Richard Henderson (2019)
Clergy: The Reverend Dr. William Wallace (2021)
Santa Monica, CA
Lay: Mr. Ken Higginbotham (2021)
Staff Representatives
Canon to the Ordinary
The Rev. Canon Melissa McCarthy
Executive Assistant to Bishops & Canon to the Ordinary
Canon Abigail Urquidi
Chief Financial Officer
The Rev. Michele Racusin
Canon for Common Life
Canon Robert Williams
Communications Department
Canon Janet Kawamoto
Convention Coordinator
Ms. Samantha Wylie
Members Representing Deaneries-Elected by Deanery
| Deanery 1
Clergy: The Reverend Michael Corrigan
Lay: Mr. Jim Alexander
| Deanery 2
Clergy: The Reverend Vincent Schwahn Ryckman
St. Mark’s Church Van Nuys, CA
Lay: Mr. Richard Holdredge
| Deanery 3
Clergy: The Very Reverend Canon lan Davies
St. Thomas” Church Hollywood, CA
Lay: The Honorable Canon Patti Jo McKay Ramsey
| Deanery 4
Clergy: The Reverend Michael Bell
Lay: Mr. Dan Valdéz
| Deanery 5
Clergy: The Reverend Julie D. Bryant,
Church of the Transfiguration Arcadia, CA
Lay: Canon Ann Seitz
| Deanery 6
Clergy: The Reverend Keith Yamamoto
St. Mark’s Church Upland, CA
Lay: Dr. Julie McCurdy
| Deanery 7
Clergy: The Reverend Liz Williams
St. Alban’s Yucaipa, CA
Lay: Ms Nancy Doss
| Deanery 8
Clergy: The Reverend Michael Fincher
St. Gregory’s Church Long Beach, CA
Lay: Ms Carole Gonzalez
| Deanery 9
Clergy: The Very Reverend Jeannie Martz
Trinity Church Orange, CA
Lay: Mr. Don Harrell
| Deanery 10
Clergy: The Reverend Will Crist
Lay: Mr. Michael Morris
DIOCESAN COUNCIL ALTERNATES
| Deanery 1
Clergy: The Reverend Lawrence Brown
Trinity Church Fillmore, CA
Lay: Mr. Steve Seebach
| Deanery 2
Clergy: The Reverend Dan Justin
St. Michael’s Church Studio City, CA
Lay: Mr. Brendan Krabach
| Deanery 3
Clergy: The Very Reverend Canon James Newman
St. Bede’s Church
Lay: Canon Annette V. Graw
| Deanery 4
Clergy: The Reverend Michael S. Bell – Good Samaritan Hospital (Pastoral Care Dept.)
Lay: Canon Roy Salmon
| Deanery 5
Clergy: The Reverend Carri Grindon – St. Mark’s Church Altadena, CA
Lay: Mr. Dino Kidde
| Deanery 6
Clergy: The Rev. Keith Yamamoto – St. Mark’s Church Upland, CA
Lay: Ms. Jullie McCurdy
| Deanery 7
Clergy: The Reverend Mary Crist
Lay: Mr. Neil Hartschum
| Deanery 8
Clergy: The Reverend Arthur Toro – Holy Communion Church Gardena, CA
Lay: Ms Shelly Crilly
| Deanery 9
Clergy: The Reverend Kay Sylvester
Lay: Ms Morgan Mullins
| Deanery 10
Clergy: The Reverend Canon Mary Crist