The Right Reverend Richard T. Lawson
Bishop of the Diocese of Alabama
The Right Reverend Richard T. Lawson III was consecrated bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama on June 27, 2026, at the Cathedral Church of the Advent by the Most Rev. Sean Rowe, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church.
Lawson received his M.Div. from General Seminary and later an S.T.M. from the University of the South (Sewanee). In 2001, he was ordained a deacon at Epiphany in Guntersville by Bishop Onell Soto and later that year was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral Church of the Advent by Bishop Henry Parsley. He began his ordained ministry as curate and later as rector at St. John’s in Decatur, a thriving parish where he gained extensive experience in pastoral care. He then served as rector of Grace-St. Luke’s Church and School in Memphis, where the parish flourished and experienced healing under his leadership.
Before his election as bishop, Lawson served as the Dean of St. John’s Cathedral in Denver, a dynamic and growing congregation and the cathedral for the Diocese of Colorado. He is married to Katherine, and they have two adult children.
To schedule an appointment with Bishop Lawson, please email Ashley Haynes or call 205-358-9224.
Our Staff
The Rev. Katie Pearson
The Rev. Katie Pearson
Canon to the Ordinary
Ask Me About: Clergy (placements, supply, and transitions) | Parish (personnel issues, searches, and support for vestry and wardens) | Diocesan (pastoral care, preaching, and staff)
The Rev. Derrick Hill
The Rev. Derrick Hill
Executive Director & CEO - Camp McDowell
The Venerable Catherine Schiesz
The Venerable Catherine Schiesz
Archdeacon
Ask Me About: Community of Deacons | The Diocesan Cycle of Prayer
Phyllis Benington
Phyllis Benington
Receptionist
Ashley Haynes
Ashley Haynes
Executive Assistant to the Bishop
Ask Me About: Bishop (Contacting, Scheduling, and Signatory Items) | Canon to the Ordinary (Contacting and Scheduling) | Clergy (Celebrations of New Ministry, and Supply) | Parish (Visitations, and Supply)
Kana Goldsmith
Kana Goldsmith
Interim Canon for Parish Vitality and Vocations
Anne Tippett
Anne Tippett
Assistant to the Interim Canon for Parish Vitality and Vocations
Ask Me About: The Discernment and Ordination Process | Commission on Ministry | Leading in Hope | Lay Eucharistic Minister & Visitor Licenses
Connie Bryson
Connie Bryson
Director of Finance and Administration
Ask Me About: Finance | Insurance | Audits | Stock donations | Pooled investments
Makenzie Oeder
Makenzie Oeder
Assistant Director of Mission Funding and Human Resources
Ask Me About: Background checks | Safeguarding | Human Resources | Employee benefits | Diocesan giving
Cinda Moore
Cinda Moore
Finance and Administrative Assistant
Sarah Banks Bosu
Sarah Banks Bosu
Director of Mission Funding
Ask Me About: Stewardship | Mission & Outreach | Companion Diocese | Diocese Grants | Strategic Funding,
Nana Afia Tenkoramaa
Nana Afia Tenkoramaa
Director of Communications
Ask Me About: The Diocesan and Parishes Websites | The Alabama Episcopalian | The Monthly Leadership and Weekly Newsletters | The Episcopal Assets Map | Storytelling, Video, Livestream, and Photo Productions | Social Media
Breanna Carter
Breanna Carter
Missioner for Racial Healing and Pilgrimage
Ask Me About: Jonathan Daniels and the Martyrs of Alabama Pilgrimage | Clergy and Lay People of Color Gatherings | Civil Rights Pilgrimage in Alabama | Commission on Racial Healing and Pilgrimage | Sawyerville Person2Person
Liza Lee Horton
Liza Lee Horton
Database Coordinator
Ask Me About: Contact updates | The Episcopalian Mailing List | Event Registrations and Online Clergy Directory
Jen Manning
Jen Manning
Missioner for Formation
Ask Me About: Children’s Ministry | Youth & Campus Ministry| Diocesan Youth Department (YD) | Youth Worker Training | Trauma-Informed Ministry | LGBTQ+ Ministry
Carrie Dennis
Carrie Dennis
Executive Director of Sawyerville
Ask Me About: Sawyerville Summer Camp | Academic scholarships | Junior Board and Department of Sawyerville | Sawyerville budget | Sawyerville 5K and Christmas Ministries | Monetary donations
Annagrace Parmer
Annagrace Parmer
Assistant Director of Sawyerville
Ask Me About: Sawyerville Summer Learning & SSL Internships | Mentoring | In-Kind Donations (supplies, meals, & volunteers) | Communications & spreading the 'good news' of Sawyerville