Canon Twila Smith Called as Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral, Buffalo

The Rev. Twila Smith, canon for mission program on the partnership dioceses’ staff, has been called as dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral in Buffalo for a term of two years beginning July 1. In her new role, she will devote most of her time to ministry at the cathedral while also continuing to serve as liaison to the dioceses’ Commission on Ministry, support people in the discernment process and advise on partnership-wide formation and mission. She will live in the Cathedral Commons in downtown Buffalo.

“I am delighted that Twila and the people of St. Paul’s will be in ministry together during this time of transition,” Bishop Sean said. “We are committed to providing hands-on support and expertise to congregations at pivotal times and sharing staff expenses with congregations in transition. This is another example of how working together can strengthen our ministry.”

Smith’s tenure at the cathedral will be “a time for intentional redevelopment of ministry and reconceptualization of what it means to be a cathedral in this difficult time the church finds itself,” Peter Snodgrass and Wendy Darling, the cathedral’s wardens, wrote to the congregation. “It will also be a period to strengthen the cathedral to call the next dean.”

“The Cathedral has embraced this time of change as an opportunity to actively listen and respond to the future God is revealing and reconceptualize the Cathedral for the future,” they wrote. “Please continue to keep St. Paul’s Cathedral and Canon Twila in your prayers as we prepare for what God has ahead as we move forward.”