The following persons were elected at the 192nd Convention.
STANDING COMMITTEE
The Standing Committee is the bishop’s Council of Advice. In the absence of a bishop, the Standing Committee would act as the Ecclesiastical Authority for those purposes declared by General Convention. The Standing Committee must approve all ordinations and any financial indebtedness of parishes. It usually meets four times a year at the same time as the Commission on Ministry and in various locations throughout the diocese.
Lay Person, Standing Committee
Charlie Hough
Charlie (Charles N.) Hough is a cradle Episcopalian. He moved to South Georgia in 2000 with his wife Bonnie where they founded a business in Albany. They became active in Saint Patrick’s Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Georgia. He became a member of Saint Patrick’s (Albany) in 2001 and was elected Sr. Warden and a member of the Vestry 2003 – 2006 and 2007 – 2010. He served as Chair of the Building Committee 2003 – 2007 with the new church being completed and occupied in 2007. He currently serves as a Eucharistic Minister and Visitor, Lector and Instructor Facilitator for “Safeguarding God’s Children”. He has completed the 4 year course in Education for Ministry (EfM). Charlie was appointed to fill an unexpired term on the Standing Committee in 2003, serving the balance of that term until 2006. He then ran and was elected to the Standing Committee for a term from 2006 through 2010. He served as Secretary to the Standing Committee in 2005, 2008 and 2009. He was elected to serve on the Board of the Corporation in 2008 and will complete that term in 2015. He was elected as the Representative of the Albany Convocation to the Diocesan Council, serving three years 2010 through 2013. He was a member of the Search/Nominating Committee for the 10th Bishop of the Diocese of Georgia 2008-2010. He was appointed as Chair of the Honey Creek Commission by Bishop Benhase in 2010 and continues to serve in that capacity.
Charlie holds a B.S. Degree from Northwestern University (Evanston, Illinois) where he also attended the Kellogg Graduate School of Business. He retired in 1991 as President and CEO of a company supplying equipment in the automotive aftermarket. He spends a substantial portion of his time working with Saint Patrick’s, the Diocese of Georgia and other charitable endeavors in the Albany Area. Bonnie and Charlie have been married 57 years and have 5 children, 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
Clergy, Standing Committee
The Rev. Billy Alford
The Very Reverend Billy J. Alford is rector of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Augusta, Georgia where he has served for the past 19 years.
Alford is a 1992 graduate of the Virginia Theological Seminary. He serves as current Dean of the Augusta Convocation. He has served four terms as a member of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Georgia and has represented our Diocese as a deputy to five General Conventions.
A native of Albany, Georgia, Alford received a BA from Albany State University in Speech and Theatre. He is a veteran of the United States Navy. He currently serves on the Board of the Lydia Project, an organization for Women living with cancer; St. Stephens Ministry of Augusta, an organization which provides housing and aide for persons living with HIV/AIDS. And he sings with and serves on the Boards of the Augusta Choral Society and the Augusta Men’s Chorus.
THE BOARD of OFFICERS of THE CORPORATION
The Board of Officers is charged with the oversight of the investments and disbursements of those funds entrusted to it through wills, deeds, and other trust instruments. The board meets quarterly. Person elected at 2012 Diocesan Convention will serve through the Convention of 2019.
Nominee, Board of the Corporation
Tattnall Thomson IV
Tattnall Thompson IV, is a lifelong Episcopalian (63 years) and a member of St. Michael’s, Waynesboro, where he has served as both the Senior Warden and the Junior Warden. He currently serves on St. Michael’s Finance Committee.
Tat is just completing a term on the Diocese of Georgia’s Board of the Corporation and is eligible for re-election.
He is the City President of Augusta First Bank & Trust/a Synovus Bank in Augusta, Georgia.
TRUSTEE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH
The board meets in Sewanee, TN, early in October each year. The two laypersons and one priest who serve on the board from the Diocese of Georgia are to represent the university to the diocese. One lay person will be elected for a three-year term to serve through Convention 2016. Dr. Deborah Thomas whose term expires in February 2013 is eligible for nomination.
Nominee, Sewanee Trustee
Dr. Deborah Thomas
I am a retired special education teacher. I worked for 33 years in public school systems in Indiana and Georgia. I have 2 bachelor degrees in sociology and special education, a master’s degree in special education, an educational specialist degree in curriculum and instruction in special education, and a doctorate in educational leadership. I have 2 adult sons and a grandson. I am a caregiver for my mother.
I have been a member of an Episcopal Church for over 40 years. I have been active in churches in Florida, Indiana, and Georgia.I have been a delegate to convention for 2 years. I have been a trustee for the University of the South for the past 3 years and have enjoyed my tenure tremendously. It has offered me a chance to combine my education, teaching experience, and church affiliation. I have expanded my knowledge and work with the university and would like to continue on that path.
In my Parish, I have been a member of the Vestry for one 3 year term. I am currently a Lay Eucharistic Minister, Acolyte, Lay Reader, and teacher of Sunday School. I am also Secretary for the Vestry and the Rector of St. George’s Episcopal Church. I assist in the annual sales of Christmas trees by the men’s club of the church and crochet chemo caps for cancer patients for all 3 local hospitals and hospices through Mary’s Guild at the church. I am very active in donating my time and talents to my church, as well as meeting my monetary obligation yearly.
DIOCESAN COUNCIL
Council’s responsibilities are to carry out the policies, programs and directions of Convention; to deal with contingencies as they arise; and to assist the bishop in developing the ministry of the diocese. It carries out the duties of Convention between Conventions. Council generally has four overnight meetings a year in various parts of the diocese. Person elected at 2013 Diocesan Convention will serve through Convention of 2016.
At Large, lay or ordained
Victoria Logue
Victoria Logue is a cradle Episcopalian who has served the Diocese as the Secretary of Diocesan Council (2007-2010) and as a team member for Cursillo. She has organized and helped lead seven spirituality retreats at Honey Creek. Victoria took part in the Dominican Discovery Trip in 2010 and served on our Companion Diocese Commission. She is a life professed member of the Third Order Society of St. Francis and has served as the convener of the Georgia Fellowship. Victoria is a certified Labyrinth facilitator. She is a graduate of DOCC and EfM and earned a Lay Diploma in Theology from Virginia Theological Seminary (2000).
She is the author of a dozen books including Hiking and Backpacking, The Guide to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Touring the Backroads of North and South Georgia. Victoria is married to The Rev. Canon Frank Logue. They have a 22-year old daughter, Griffin, who was active in diocesan youth programs.
DISCIPLINARY BOARD
Previously known as “The Ecclesiastical Trial Court,” the Disciplinary Board of the Diocese of Georgia is vested with jurisdiction to hear and determine all proceedings in which a priest or deacon has been charged with one or more offense specified in the canons of the Episcopal Church. It meets only when necessary. Two clergy members for a term of three years.
Lay Person, Disciplinary Board
Neil Dickert
Neil Dickert served as a Superior Court Judge in the Augusta Judicial Circuit from 1997-2007. He currently practices law with Hull, Barrett P.C. Dickert was a Judge of Superior Court, Augusta Judicial Circuit from 1997 to 2007. As judge, Dickert presided over civil, criminal, and domestic cases, to include over 100 jury trials, in this three-county circuit. He has practiced law since 1974 and has served on the Board of Governors of the Georgia Bar Association, as Chairman of the Board of Elections in Richmond County and in many other civic and professional positions. Trained as mediator in 40-hour course sponsored by Dispute Management in 1994. Successfully completed over 250 mediations. He was listed in Best Lawyers in America under category of Mediation. He is an active member of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Augusta, where he has served on the vestry and for three years as the Senior Warden. He served as a First Lieutenant, United States Army Medical Service Corps (1969-71), Receiving Bronze Star and the Vietnam Service Medal. J.D., University of South Carolina, 1974. M.B.A., University of South Carolina, 1969. B.A. in Economics, Wofford College, 1968. Married to the former Floride Clarkson, June 4, 1969, they have one son, Dr. Neal W. Dickert, Jr., Assistant Professor, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine.
Clergy, Disciplinary Board
The Rev. Cynthia Taylor
The Rev. Cynthia Taylor is the founding Vicar of the Church of the Holy Comforter in Martinez and a graduate of Virginia Theological Seminary. She was the first woman to be ordained in the Diocese of South Carolina where she served until 1988. In that year Taylor was called to be the Canon Pastor at the American Cathedral in Paris where she served for three years. Subsequently she accepted a call to serve as the Associate Rector of Saint Paul’s Church in Augusta. In 1999 Taylor accepted the call and the challenge to establish the first new Episcopal Church in the Augusta area in nearly forty years.
Cindy has a passion for ministry, especially in the areas of Christian Formation, Pastoral Care and Preaching. She frequently serves as a guest preacher, teacher and retreat leader. She recently received her Doctor of Ministry with an emphasis on congregational development through the seminary at Sewanee. In the Diocese of Georgia, she served on the Search Committee for the 10th Bishop of Georgia, the Commission on Ministry and represents the Diocese in Province IV for congregation development. She has previously served on the Ecclesiastical Trial Court (as the Disciplinary Board was previously known).
The Rev. John West
The Rev. John R. West, Jr, is rector of the Church of Our Savior, Martinez, GA for the past six months. He was raised and brought up in the Diocese of Georgia and has been ordained to the priesthood for 11 years. He has served both Christ Church, Frederica as a Curate and St. Elizabeth’s, Richmond Hill as Vicar and then Rector during his first four years as a priest. For seven years West served as Rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Virginia.
In this diocese, West served as the Diocesan Youth Coordinator for 10 months. While in Virginia, he was selected and attended the Alban Institutes Leadership Program in Washington DC, as well as the Clergy Leadership Project at Trinity Episcopal Church, Wall Street, New York, NY. He was selected and traveled as a participant to assist the Church Pension Fund in New York City as part of a National Church survey. West also served as an active member of the Diocese of Virginia’s mission team and traveled to Tanzania, East Africa. He was one of two contact persons in the Diocese of Virginia for the One Campaign.
West led a Capital Campaign in his previous parish raising $150,000 to renovate and restore the Education Building, and was also successful in obtaining a Mustard Seed Grant that paid for computers for Sunday school education.
