Executive Council
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