Executive Council

executive council meeting wide web

The Executive Council carries out the policies and programs adopted by the annual Diocesan Convention; oversees the financial affairs of the diocese, including clergy and staff compensation standards, contracts, leases, loans, mortgages, property conveyance, and budget preparation; receives reports from various boards, committees, agencies, and offices; and makes long-range policy and program recommendations to Diocesan Convention.

The Executive Council is composed of the bishop who serves as president of Council; the executive secretary of the diocese who serves as secretary of Council; and the diocesan treasurer who serves as the council’s treasurer; and six clergy and six lay members, who are elected to staggered terms by Diocesan Convention.

See the Constitution and Canons for a further description of the Council’s duties and membership.

In 2012 the Executive Council began building the framework for a long-range strategic planning process by forming a partnership with the Episcopal Church Foundation for designing the process.  As noted by then Canon to the Ordinary David Pfaff in his report to Council:  “. . . the time is now to undertake a significant study of the diocese — its deficits, liabilities, challenges and points of weakness, along with its assets, strengths, opportunities and considerable human resources and potential, to discern how its ministry might be most faithfully shaped for the next three to five years, what measurable outcomes might help us to stay on that task, and what kinds of resources are or will be needed for the short and long-term work of whatever it is that God is calling us to be, as the Episcopal Church in the southern third of Wisconsin.”

Contact Information

You can reach the Executive Council by contacting the Rev. Marge Kiss, Executive Secretary. You may also want to get in touch the following members serving as contact persons for certain areas:

Finance Committee: D'Arcy Becker
Global Reconciliation Commission: Carol Smith
Professional Standards: Jan Merkt

Membership

Treasurer

D'Arcy Becker
St. Andrew's, Madison

Executive secretary & recorder of minutes

The Rev. Marge Kiss

Standing Committee President

The Rev. Dave Mowers
Trinity, Baraboo

Elected Members

The Rev. Matthew Buterbaugh (2026)
St. Luke’s, Racine

The Rev. Bobbi Kraft (2026)
St. Francis House, Madison

Ms. Janice Pauc (2026)
Holy Cross, Wisconsin Dells

Ms. Christine Krueger (2026)
St. Paul’s, Milwaukee

The Rev. Nancy Hodge (2025)
St. Matthias, Waukesha

The Rev. Esther Kramer (2025)
St. Aidan’s, Hartford

Ms. Barbara Eckblad (2025)
St. Mark’s, Milwaukee

Dr. John W. Johnson (2025)
Grace, Madison

The Rev. Don Fleischman (2024)
St. Luke's, Madison/Good Shepherd, Sun Prairie

The Rev. Debra Trakel (2024)
St. Boniface, Mequon

Ms. Judith Miller (2024)
St. Mark's, Milwaukee

Mr. Roger Mukasa (2024)
Grace, Madison

Staff

The Rev. Canon Scott Leannah
Canon to the Ordinary

Ms. Caroline Senn
Chief Financial Officer

Commission on Ministry President

The Rev. Pippa Lindwright
St. Mary's, Dousman

Trustees of Funds & Endowments Representatives

The Rev. Chuck Zellermayer, Executive Director
St. Mary's, Dousman

The Rev. Geoff Ward, President
St. Christopher's, River Hills


Executive Council Minutes