Leadership
The Rt. Rev. J. Scott Mayer, Bishop of Fort Worth

Bishops are one of the three orders of ordained ministers in the church (deacons,priests, and bishops). They are charged with the apostolic work of leading, supervising, and uniting the church. Bishops represent Christ and his church, and they are called to provide Christian vision and leadership for their dioceses. A diocese is the territorial jurisdiction of a diocesan bishop. The term also refers to the congregations and church members of the diocese. Bishops serve as the focus for diocesan unity and for the unity of their dioceses with the wider church. Since the bishop's ministry is a ministry of oversight, the term "episcopal" (derived from the Greek episcopos, "overseer") is applied to matters pertaining to bishops. An "episcopal" church is a church governed by bishops, and "episcopal" services are led by bishops.
The Rt. Rev. J. Scott Mayer was elected the fourth provisional bishop of the Episcopal Church in North Texas at a Special Meeting of Convention on May 16, 2015, at Trinity Episcopal Church, Fort Worth.
He succeeds the Rt. Rev. Rayford B. High, Jr., who resigned effective June 30, 2015. Mayer continues as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas while also serving as provisional bishop of Fort Worth. He splits his time between the two dioceses.
James Scott Mayer is a native and lifelong Texan, born in Dallas and raised in Lubbock and Fort Worth. Mayer has long and deep connections to Fort Worth. He and his younger brothers were baptized and confirmed at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Fort Worth, attended Fort Worth public schools, graduated from Southwest High School, and enjoyed memorable summer days playing ball at University Little League. Several family members continue to reside in the Fort Worth area.
In 1977 Mayer received his BBA Degree in Management from Texas Tech University. He and Kathy Kistenmacher met while attending Texas Tech and were married in 1978. After twelve years of sales in the automotive aftermarket, the family moved to Austin, where Mayer earned a Master’s in Divinity from the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in 1992.
Bishop Mayer was ordained deacon in 1992 by the Rt. Rev. Donis Patterson and ordained priest in 1993 by the Rt. Rev. James Stanton, both in the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas. He then served as curate at St. James Episcopal Church in Texarkana before being called to the Church of the Heavenly Rest in Abilene – first as associate rector in 1994, and then as rector in 1995. He was consecrated as bishop of the Diocese of Northwest Texas on March 21, 2009, in Lubbock, where he and Kathy now reside. The Mayers have two grown children, both married, and four grandchildren.
The Rt. Rev. J. Scott Mayer was elected the fourth provisional bishop of the Episcopal Church in North Texas at a Special Meeting of Convention on May 16, 2015, at Trinity Episcopal Church, Fort Worth.
He succeeds the Rt. Rev. Rayford B. High, Jr., who resigned effective June 30, 2015. Mayer continues as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas while also serving as provisional bishop of Fort Worth. He splits his time between the two dioceses.
James Scott Mayer is a native and lifelong Texan, born in Dallas and raised in Lubbock and Fort Worth. Mayer has long and deep connections to Fort Worth. He and his younger brothers were baptized and confirmed at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Fort Worth, attended Fort Worth public schools, graduated from Southwest High School, and enjoyed memorable summer days playing ball at University Little League. Several family members continue to reside in the Fort Worth area.
In 1977 Mayer received his BBA Degree in Management from Texas Tech University. He and Kathy Kistenmacher met while attending Texas Tech and were married in 1978. After twelve years of sales in the automotive aftermarket, the family moved to Austin, where Mayer earned a Master’s in Divinity from the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in 1992.
Bishop Mayer was ordained deacon in 1992 by the Rt. Rev. Donis Patterson and ordained priest in 1993 by the Rt. Rev. James Stanton, both in the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas. He then served as curate at St. James Episcopal Church in Texarkana before being called to the Church of the Heavenly Rest in Abilene – first as associate rector in 1994, and then as rector in 1995. He was consecrated as bishop of the Diocese of Northwest Texas on March 21, 2009, in Lubbock, where he and Kathy now reside. The Mayers have two grown children, both married, and four grandchildren.
The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church

The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry took office as the presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church on November 1, 2015. The Episcopal Church is a province of the Anglican Communion.
The presiding bishop is the chief pastor and primate of The Episcopal Church. The chief bishop in an province of the Anglican Communion is called a primate. As chief pastor, the presiding bishop is charged with initiating and developing church policy and strategy, speaking God's Word to the church and the world, and visiting every diocese of the church. The Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Paul (also known as the National Cathedral, the site of the funeral of former President George H. W. Bush in 2018) in Washington, D. C., is the official seat of the presiding bishop. The office of the presiding bishop is located at the Episcopal Church Center in New York City. The present term of office for the presiding bishop is nine years. He formerly served as the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina.
Curry is the first African American to be elected to the office of presiding bishop. You may recognize him as the preacher at the 2018 royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
The presiding bishop is the chief pastor and primate of The Episcopal Church. The chief bishop in an province of the Anglican Communion is called a primate. As chief pastor, the presiding bishop is charged with initiating and developing church policy and strategy, speaking God's Word to the church and the world, and visiting every diocese of the church. The Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Paul (also known as the National Cathedral, the site of the funeral of former President George H. W. Bush in 2018) in Washington, D. C., is the official seat of the presiding bishop. The office of the presiding bishop is located at the Episcopal Church Center in New York City. The present term of office for the presiding bishop is nine years. He formerly served as the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina.
Curry is the first African American to be elected to the office of presiding bishop. You may recognize him as the preacher at the 2018 royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.