The Episcopal Diocese of West Texas has elected the Rev. Angela Maria Cortiñas as its next bishop suffragan. Cortiñas currently serves as associate rector of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Austin, Texas. She will be consecrated and installed as the seventh Bishop Suffragan of West Texas on March 29, 2025, pending consents of bishops with jurisdiction and Standing Committees of Episcopal Church dioceses, and will serve under the Rt. Rev. Dr. David G. Read, D.D., Bishop of West Texas.
“The Diocese of West Texas has been blessed with the ministry of bishop suffragans since 1955,” said Bishop Read. “Each of the bishop suffragan nominees brought unique talents and background that align with the mission of the diocese, and all were well suited for the role. I am grateful for their trust in putting forth their name as a candidate and participating in the discernment process. I extend my congratulations to Rev. Cortiñas. Angela’s passion for the mission of bringing the love of Jesus far and wide is a gift. I give thanks and praise for her willingness to step into this role.”
In her statement to the delegation, Rev. Cortiñas thanked the nominating committee and Bishop Read for their hard work over the past months and said, “You could feel the Holy Spirit throughout the whole process.” She thanked clergy and delegates for their belief in her and said she is ready to do the work of the bishop suffragan in the Diocese of West Texas.
The bishop suffragan-elect was chosen by clergy and lay delegates representing congregations of the diocese on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at a Special Council, held in-person at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Corpus Christi, Texas. Cortiñas was elected on the 5th round of balloting with 59% of the clergy votes and 52% of lay votes. A majority of both clergy and lay votes in the same round, defined as 50% plus one vote, was needed for election.
The other nominees included the Rev. Canon Wm. Lee Curtis, canon to the ordinary for the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande, and the Rev. Matthew Wise, associate rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in San Antonio, Texas.
The Rev. James J. Derkits, rector of Trinity by the Sea Episcopal Church in Port Aransas, Texas and president of the Diocese of West Texas Standing Committee, said “The committee and I give thanks to God for the amazing group of nominees who have faithfully participated in this process. The Holy Spirit has been at work these eight months of discernment through our diocese, the Standing and Nominating Committees, our clergy and delegates, and the nominees. It has been a care-filled and joyous discernment process with so many holy moments.”
