ABOUT

THE EIGHTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT

Cabinet of Presiding Elders

The Eighth Episcopal District is organized into four key geographical regions spanning Texas and Oklahoma.

  • Central Texas Region
  • Dallas-Fort Worth/Northwest Texas Region
  • Southeast Texas Region
  • East Texas / Oklahoma Region

 These region’s operational oversight is extended through a Cabinet of Presiding Elders who supervise individual districts within these regions. These include the North Tyler and Tyler Districts (Central Texas); the Northwest, Fort Worth, and Dallas Districts (DFW/NW Texas); the Houston and Beaumont-Nacogdoches Districts (Southeast Texas); and the Greenville-Texarkana, Longview-Marshall, and Oklahoma Districts (East Texas/Oklahoma).

Rev. Dr. Lesha Agnew

– Presiding Elder, North Tyler District (Central Texas Region)

Rev. James Oakry

– Presiding Elder, Tyler District (Central Texas Region)

Rev. Dr. Linda R. Barnett

– Presiding Elder, Northwest District (Dallas-Fort Worth/Northwest Texas Region) 


Rev. Dr. Drexel N. Mitchell, Sr.

Presiding Elder, Fort Worth District (Dallas-Fort Worth/Northwest Texas Region) 


Rev. Russell O. Fuller Sr.

– Presiding Elder, Dallas District (Dallas-Fort Worth/Northwest Texas Region) 


Rev. Jonathan L. Jones Sr.

– Presiding Elder, Houston District (Southeast Texas Region)

Rev. Milton A. Proctor

– Presiding Elder, Beaumont-Nacogdoches District (Southeast Texas Region) 


Rev. Diana Casteel

Presiding Elder, Greenville-Texarkana District (East Texas - Oklahoma Region)

Rev. Kenneth Cain

– Presiding Elder, Longview-Marshall District (East Texas - Oklahoma Region)

Rev. James K. Grayson, Sr.

* – Presiding Elder, Oklahoma District (East Texas - Oklahoma Region)

We pray that all will come to know that Jesus is love and that this knowledge will permeate our lives.

The Eighth Episcopal District

has adopted the following areas of emphasis for Christian growth and institutional improvement through 2030

ELEVAT8

Bishop Modest Vision Casting Presentation outlines the strategic four-year vision for the Eighth Episcopal District under the theme “ELEVAT8: Open for God’s Business Through Courageous Imagination” (grounded in Ephesians 3:20).

The roadmap is structured around four central pillars:

Year 1: Connect (Elevate Fellowship) – Focuses on building authentic relationships, welcoming hospitality, small groups, and community unity to foster a culture of belonging.

Year 2: Exalt (Elevate Worship) – Centered on spiritual growth through Spirit-filled worship, prayer and praise, creative worship arts, and transforming lives through deep encounters with God.

Year 3: Equip (Elevate Discipleship) – Dedicated to equipping believers through Bible study, teaching, leadership development, and youth and young adult ministry to raise mature disciples.

Year 4: Advance (Elevate Stewardship) – Aims to transform communities through generosity, resource management, Kingdom partnerships, and active service.

Together, these four pillars serve a unified mission: Elevating Faith, Transforming the Community, and Advancing the Kingdom.

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