I was in Dallas, Texas, last week for the 119th Synod of the Reformed Episcopal Church’s Diocese of Mid-America (October 14–16) at the Church of the Holy Communion.

My 13-year-old son Athanasius joined me as a synod observer, flying with me from SFO to Dallas on one of those early morning flights.

The Synod’s teaching sessions focused on the office of Deacon and the lay order of Deaconess. Bishop Boonzaaijer taught on the diaconate as part of Holy Orders, while Deaconess Annette Johnson provided an overview of the lay ministry of deaconesses. I learned there was a scholarship fund for women seeking a theological education to serve as deaconesses: https://recdss.org/scholarship-fund/

We also joined for the commencement exercises of Cranmer Theological House, where several degrees were conferred and the faculty signed the book of conformity: “a solemn declaration that all teaching shall be in accordance with the doctrines and principles of the Reformed Episcopal Church.”

Cranmer Theological House has been approved as an “Affiliated Ministry” of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). This affiliation represents an important relationship that will provide benefits to both Cranmer Theological House and the ACNA.

Canon Vinson shared about his ongoing work of church planting and revitalization with the REC100 initiative, which reports 28 active church planting works across the Reformed Episcopal Church. REC100 site: https://www.rec100.org/

Perhaps the most significant moment came when Archbishop Ray Sutton announced his plans for retirement and plans for the election of a Bishop Coadjutor at the 2027 Synod.

You can read the full 2026 Diocesan Synod Report Packet for more about the work of our Diocese.