1115 Marion Street, Columbia, SC 29201  ·   803-771-7800  ·       Clergy

Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina
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Diocesan Executive Council (DEC)

The Diocesan Executive Council (DEC) consists of the Bishop, 18 elected representatives (nine clergy and nine laity), convocation deans and lay wardens, the diocesan chancellors, and diocesan treasurer. Functioning as a "Diocesan Vestry," Council's responsibilities include service as the Council of Advice to the Bishop and as the Long-Range Planning Committee.

The work of the Council is most clearly expressed in and through the actions of the DEC Commissions. There are seven Commissions, by which the DEC expresses its strategic leadership ministry. They are:

  1. Commission on Ministry
  2. Commission for Congregations
  3. Commission on Convocations
  4. Commission on the Diocese
  5. Commission on The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion
  6. Commission on Mission and International Concerns
  7. Commission on Christian Formation

Each commission is responsible for implementing effective ministry in these areas, based upon the Bishop's and Council's priorities.


Members of the Diocesan Executive Council

Term ending in 2021

Ms. Mary Ellen Haile
Trinity Cathedral, Columbia

Ms. Rebecca Ann Kenner
All Saints’, Cayce

Ms. Melissa Langford (Assistant Secretary of Standing Committee/DEC)
Grace Church, Anderson

The Rev. Grant Wiseman
St. Thaddeus, Aiken

The Rev. Stephen Rhoades (President of Standing Committee/DEC)
St. James, Greenville

The Rev. Mitchell Smith
St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields, Columbia

Term ending in 2022

Mr. Ethan Cashwell (Vice-President of Standing Committee/DEC)
St. Andrews, Greenville

The Rev. Suz Cate
Holy Trinity, Clemson

The Rev. Gary Eichelberger
St. Andrews, Greenville

Ms. Janet Rippy
Grace Church, Anderson

Mr. Steve Johnson
Church of the Advent, Spartanburg

The Rev. Pickett Wall
Grace Church, Camden

Term ending in 2023

The Rev. Mary Balfour Dunlap
Resurrection, Greenwood

Ms. Suzi Clawson
Good Shepherd, Columbia

The Rev. Paula Griffin
Church of the Advent, Spartanburg

The Rev. Charles Jenkins
Christ Church, Greenville

Dr. Joseph Ray
St. Luke’s, Columbia

Mr. Frank Wideman
Resurrection, Greenwood

Ex-Officio

Mr. Kirby Shealy (Chancellor)
Trinity Cathedral

Mr. J. P. Lee (Vice Chancellor)
Trinity Cathedral

Dr. Bill Sandberg (Treasurer)
St. Timothy’s, Columbia

The Rt. Rev. W. Andrew Waldo

Convocation Deans

The Rev. Jane Wilson
Catawba Convocation
Our Saviour, Rock Hill

The Rev. Christine Gregory
Gravatt Convocation
Church of the Ridge, Trenton

The Rev. Scott Fleischer
Midlands Convocation
St. John's, Columbia

The Rev. Jenny Gettys
Piedmont Convocation
Church of the Incarnation, Gaffney

The Rev. Mike Flanagan
Foothills Convocation
Holy Cross, Simpsonville

Convocation Lay Wardens

Mr. David Dudley
Catawba Convocation
St. Paul’s, Fort Mill

Currently Vacant
Gravatt Convocation

Mrs. Whitney Evans
Midlands Convocation
St. Timothy's, Columbia

Mr. Danny Shelton
Piedmont Convocation
St. Matthew’s, Spartanburg

Mr. Frank Boineau
Foothills Convocation
St. Peter’s, Greenville

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Governance Diocesan Convention Standing Committee Diocesan Executive Council (DEC) Commissions Constitution & Canons

Diocesan Calendar

Monday, 5/30 at 12:00 AM
Memorial Day
Saturday, 6/11 at 9:30 AM
Diocesan Executive Council
Monday, 6/20 at 12:00 AM
Juneteenth Observation
Monday, 7/4 at 12:00 AM
Independence Day
Friday, 7/15 at 9:00 AM
Commission on the Diocese
Thursday, 8/25 at 2:00 PM
DEC Executive Committee
Monday, 9/5 at 12:00 AM
Labor Day
Saturday, 9/10 at 9:30 AM
Diocesan Executive Council

Memorial Day

Monday, May 30, 12:00 AM - 12:00 AM



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Diocesan Executive Council

Saturday, June 11, 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM



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Juneteenth Observation

Monday, June 20, 12:00 AM - 12:00 AM



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Independence Day

Monday, July 4, 12:00 AM - 12:00 AM



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Commission on the Diocese

Friday, July 15, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM



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DEC Executive Committee

Thursday, August 25, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM



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Labor Day

Monday, September 5, 12:00 AM - 12:00 AM



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Diocesan Executive Council

Saturday, September 10, 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM



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Episcopal Diocese of
Upper South Carolina

1115 Marion Street
Columbia, SC 29201

Tel: (803) 771-7800

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