Convention 2021

The nominations committee chair and the committee members were appointed by the Bishop and the Standing Committee. We used email, telephone, and Zoom meetings to discussion to complete our work. The diocese was canvassed for qualified nominees via the EDFW newsletter, EDFW email updates, phone calls. Per canon, nominations were closed September 17 2021, and have all been vetted and verified.

In total, there are 10 nominees for 9 open positions, with no nominations received for Trustee, University of the South – Lay.

Nominations may still be made from the floor for the 2020 Diocesan Convention which will be held virtually.

NOMINATIONS AFTER SEPTEMBER 17

Any nominations after the closing date of September 17, 2021, may be made from the floor at diocesan convention. Nominations from the floor will follow all the requirements for candidates, including sufficient copies of the nominees’ picture and biographical information for all clergy and convention delegates, plus verification of qualifications. The requirements for nominations from the floor of convention appear in Canon I.2.8.2.5 “Nominations from the Floor,” in the Canons of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, found on the Constitution and Canons Committee page, here.

Nominees for Standing Committee — Clergy

Alan Bentrup
St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Keller
 Alan Bentrup currently serves as rector of St. Martin-in-the-Fields in Keller, Texas. He previously served as Canon for Evangelism and Mission for the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina and Associate Rector at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church outside of Houston. Prior to seminary, Alan spent 10 years as a marketing and business development consultant in Dallas and Houston. A Fort Worth native, Alan earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Arlington.

 Alan is the co-founder and curator of Missional Voices, a hub of conversation about innovative ministries and missional communities in The Episcopal Church. He also holds several leadership positions across the Episcopal Church, including as a Trustee for Voorhees College (an Episcopal-affiliated HBCU); a member of the Council of Advice for Episcopal Relief & Development; and on the planning and leadership teams for several Episcopal conferences and events. A graduate of Virginia Theological Seminary, Alan was the first student to earn the New Mission Practices concentration at Virginia Theological Seminary.

Karen A. Calafat
St. Luke’s, Fort Worth
I am excited to be part of the Episcopal Church in North Texas! We are a small, but tenacious bunch of faithful Episcopalians. I have just celebrated my 7th anniversary as Rector at St. Luke’s in the Meadow. We have seen some major changes in the past year and we keep showing up to ‘love God, love our neighbors, and love each other.’ It has been a humbling yet inspirational season in our parish and in the diocese. The things that give me the most delight in life are serving at St. Luke’s and being called, “Mom,” by two amazing young adult children who are making a difference in this world with their talents and service.

I have just completed my first term on the Standing Committee. It has been an honor to serve during these major transitions for our Diocese and I would be happy to serve again for the sake of continuity as we discern our way forward. I have also served on the Disciplinary Board and the Mission and Outreach Committee. I am currently a Delegate to General Convention and look forward to fulfilling that role in 2022. I believe in the mission and ministry of the Episcopal Church in North Texas and look forward to serving in any capacity where my gifts might be put to use.

Nominees for Standing Committee – Lay

Matt Pierson,
Trinity, Fort Worth
 Dr. Pierson is an active leader in our church and in the community. He works as an educational consultant, striving to provide excellent education to students from low-income backgrounds across Texas. Matt has served on Trinity’s vestry since 2018. He has also been an usher, lector, Lay Eucharistic Minister, helped plan stewardship campaigns, and helped lead the last parish retreat. He also serves as a member of the Trinity Foundation board. He would be an excellent leader and communicator on the Standing Committee.

Dr. Pierson is an active leader in our church and in the community. He works as an educational consultant, striving to provide excellent education to students from low-income backgrounds across Texas. Matt has served on Trinity’s vestry since 2018. He has also been an usher, lector, Lay Eucharistic Minister, helped plan stewardship campaigns, and helped lead the last parish retreat. He also serves as a member of the Trinity Foundation board. He would be an excellent leader and communicator on the Standing Committee.

Nominees for Executive Council – Clergy

Paula Jefferson
St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Keller
Greetings. I’m pleased to stand for election to the executive council. This Episcopal diocese has been my home for 23 years. I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve as the diocese emerges from the shadow of schism.

My previous career as a CPA/consultant is helpful for organizational planning, strategic/vision development, financial and organizational management.

I have served as a curate at St. Martin-in-the-Fields since July 1, 2020. This has been a time of learning–about the Church, parish life, and my own ministry. In this engagement, pastoral care and Christian formation have been my emphases.

Nominees for Executive Council – Lay

Jon Back
Good Shepherd, Granbury
I moved to Granbury to work at the Comanche Peak Nuclear plant in 1986. I am now retired and active in local boards and church groups. I was a nuclear reactor operator in the Navy, serving for 8 years before moving here.

I have been on and off the Good Shepherd vestry several times, serving once as Junior Warden and as Secretary/Clerk for many years. I was a member of the Constitution and Canons Committee for two terms, serving briefly as Chair until COVID-19 made meetings difficult. I have been the Southwest Deanery representative on Executive Council for the last 2 years and delegate or alternate to Convention more times than I can remember.

Laura Fleming
All Saints’, Fort Worth
I have been an Episcopalian since my birth. I am currently working in private practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor. On a personal note, I am married, have two children, two dogs. I was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. (Yes, I love horses.) I moved to Columbia, Missouri for college and later Texas for graduate school. I volunteer at Opening Doors for Women in Need and Holy Cross Anglican School in Belize.

I am an All Saints delegate and a current member of the Dioceses Executive Committee. I am an active member of various committees and guilds at All Saints.

Keen Haynes
St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Keller
A retired United States Marine and father of five, I now work as a Senior Software Engineer for a life sciences company. My wife of 34 years, Rebecca, our 14-year-old son Ronnie, and I moved to Fort Worth 5 years ago. A cradle Episcopalian, I drifted away from the Church after graduating from high school. I returned to the Episcopal Church shortly after my dad’s death, seeking the peace and comfort he had demonstrated in the last years of his life. He contributed those feelings to his belief in God and the Episcopal Church. I quickly became active in the Church, serving as usher, a member of Bishop Committee and Vestry, and on the Executive Council in both the Diocese of San Diego and the Episcopal Church in North Texas. I find that my continued service work increases my closeness to God and the feeling of being part of my Church.

I currently represent the Fort Worth East Deanery as a member of the Executive Counsel and serve on the Diocesan Mission & Outreach and Nomination Committees. In addition to serving as a convention delegate, I was on the Resolution Committee for the 2019 Episcopal Church in North Texas Diocesan Convention. While living in California I served on the Executive Council in the Diocese of San Diego and on numerous Diocesan committees. I have the pleasure of serving as the current Senior Warden for St. Martin-in-the-Fields. I am actively involved with the Finance Committee and the Christian Formation Commission. Prior to my appointment as Sr. Warden, I served on the Vestry as Stewardship Chair. I have represented St. Martin as a delegate to the Diocesan Convention on multiple occasions, served as chair of a discernment committee and as an usher. As a member of Bishop Committee at St. Thomas in Temecula, CA I was the Jr. Warden and Chair of the Stewardship Committee.

Nominees for Disciplinary Board — Clergy

 Amy Haynie
Trinity, Fort Worth
Amy is currently the Associate Rector at Trinity Episcopal Church in Fort Worth. She has also served as the Priest in Charge of the Episcopal Church in Wichita Falls, and the Associate Rector of St Martin in the Fields in Keller. Amy has been married to David since 1991 and they have two adult children.

Chair of Credentials
Diocesan Deputy to General Convention
Standing Committee
Executive Council

Lynne Waltman
All Saints’, Fort Worth
Assisting Priest, All Saints’ Fort Worth, since 2016. Business Manager, All Saints’, since 2004.
Diocesan roles:
Constitutions & Canons Committee, member
Resolutions Committee, Chair
Alternate for General Convention 2022
Fort Worth West Deanery, Dean
Elections Committee, Former Chair
All Saints’:
Outreach & Mission Committee, Former Chair

Nominees for Disciplinary Board — Lay

Gene Jackson
St. Luke’s, Stephenville
I live in Walnut Springs, am a retired elementary teacher and banker, have a daughter and three grandchildren and three cats. My hobbies are wood turning and photography, and I am an eight-year participant of the Tarleton Crosstimbers Choir and a lifetime member of the Tarleton Alumnae Association.

I am a lifelong Episcopalian, longtime member of St. Luke’s Stephenville, active in church activities, Convention delegate and Convention reporter for the congregation for 5 years, dedicated volunteer at our Tarleton lunch program for the past 7 years, participant in our Christmas Pageants, sang in the choir when it was active, and past volunteer for our Campus Ministry U-R Loved Library meetings.

I felt a calling to expand my volunteer assistance to the diocesan level, so decided to apply for the Lay Disciplinary Board position that became available recently, sincerely hoping that no meetings are scheduled at all for this group, but praying that if a problem arises, I and the other members may faithfully and fairly resolve the issue.

Your vote for Disciplinary Board member will be appreciated.

Nominee for Trustee, University of the South – Lay

 No nominations received