The Episcopal Diocese of West Texas is part of The Episcopal Church, a Christian community of 2.4 million members in America and abroad. The Episcopal Church is headed by a presiding bishop, currently the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry.
We are also part of the Anglican Communion, a global community of 74 million persons in 38 provinces throughout the world, headed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, currently the Most Rev. Justin Welby. While the Archbishop has no authority over The Episcopal Church, we share historical and theological ties. Recognizing the cultural diversity that is our gift in South Central Texas, our members are diverse and our worship is increasingly reflective of our bicultural communities.
Each diocese, or geographic region of The Episcopal Church, functions under a bishop, currently the Rt. Rev. Dr. David G. Read, D.D. who has jurisdiction over the entire diocese.
In West Texas, our 87 congregations include parishes, missions, and church plants ranging in size from 40 members to 2,000 members. Parishes are churches able to support a priest financially, who is known as the rector and called to serve by the church in collaboration with the diocese. Some mission churches are led by a priest, known as the vicar and appointed by the Bishop, and other missions are guided by dedicated lay leaders within the congregation, with the support of freelance priests and the diocese. All congregations, big or small, are the heart of the diocesan identity and mission.
The business of the diocese is conducted by the annual Diocesan Council, with representatives from every congregation participating in legislative and corporate matters as well as fellowship and worship.
Our clergy live their vocations in answer to a call from God. Clergy are ordained - first to the diaconate and then to the priesthood - after completing a rigorous three-year course of study at an accredited theological seminary. Recently, West Texas has partnered with Seminary of the Southwest and the Iona Collaborative to provide high-quality theological education for the formation of bi-vocational priests and deacons in our local community. The Episcopal Church ordains both men and women to serve as the chief pastors of their congregations, and church members who are not ordained clergy - known as "laity" or "lay people" - take on active, responsible leadership roles in the life and ministry of the church.
Our clergy are addressed as the Reverend [John or Joan Smith], abbreviated the Rev. [John Smith]. Bishops have the title of the Right Reverend, abbreviated "the Rt. Rev."
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The Rt. Rev. Dr. David G. Read, Bishop of West Texas
David Read was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on May 18, 1965 to Bill and Doris Read while Bill was on active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps. The third of three sons, he was baptized at St. Leo’s Roman Catholic Church in Winston-Salem before the family returned to San Antonio. David was confirmed at St. Francis’ Episcopal Church in San Antonio by the Rt. Rev. Scott Field Bailey. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Texas State University in San Marcos in 1988.
He graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, VA in 1992 with a Master in Divinity degree. He was ordained to the diaconate by the Rt. Rev. Earl McArthur, Jr. at St. Francis’ Church in San Antonio on June 14, 1992. On December 16, 1992 he was ordained a priest by the Rt. Rev. John MacNaughton at St. Paul’s Church in Brady.
David married Jacqueline Cheeseman on June 29, 1991, at St. Mark’s Church in San Marcos. The couple has two children, Amy and Aidan, and three grandchildren, Kaydence, Makenna, and Jameson David.
David served as rector of St. Paul’s Church in Brady from 1992 to 1995; St. Francis Church in Victoria from 1995 to 1998; St. Helena’s Church & School in Boerne from 1998 to 2009; and St. Luke’s Church & School in San Antonio from 2009 to 2017. He returned to St. Helena’s in 2017, serving as rector there until his election as bishop coadjutor. He earned a Doctor of Ministry in Congregational Development from Bexley Seabury Seminary in 2022.
He was elected bishop coadjutor for the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas at the 119th Diocesan Council in Corpus Christi, on February 18, 2023, and consecrated by Bishop W. Michie Klusmeyer in All Saints Chapel at TMI Episcopal in San Antonio, July 8, 2023. He is the sixteenth bishop to serve in West Texas (the eleventh diocesan) and 1159 in the American Succession.
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