The Rt. Rev. Jacob W. Owensby, Ph.D., D.D. was consecrated and seated as the 4th Bishop of The Episcopal Church in Western Louisiana on Saturday, July 21, 2012, in St. Mark’s Cathedral, Shreveport. At the time of his election in April of 2012, he was serving as Dean of St. Mark’s Cathedral.

A graduate of the School of Theology at Sewanee, Bishop Jake, as we call him, was ordained to the diaconate and then to the priesthood in 1997, in the Diocese of Florida. He served on staff at St. Mark’s, Jacksonville, as assistant rector for Christian Formation until accepting a call to be the rector of St. Stephen’s in Huntsville, Alabama. In 2003, Bishop Jake became rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in metropolitan St. Louis and served there until coming to St. Mark’s, Shreveport, in the fall of 2008.

Before ordination, Bishop Jake earned a Ph.D. in philosophy from Emory University, where he also received both bachelor’s and master’s degrees. At Jacksonville University, he served on the philosophy faculty and taught a range of both advanced and introductory courses.

Bishop Jake is the author of A Full Hearted Life-Following Jesus in this Secular Age (Abingdon Press, 2024), Finding God in Messy Places (Abingdon Press, 2021),  A Resurrection Shaped Life (Abingdon Press, 2018),  Your Untold Story(Church Publishing, 2018), and  Gospel Memories (Morehouse, 2016). He has three adult children and lives in Alexandria, Louisiana, with his wife Joy and rescue pup, Gracie.

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The Rev. Kristen (Kris) Paul was ordained a deacon on December 2, 2023, and a priest on June 15, 2024, in the Diocese of Maryland. She graduated from the School of Theology at Sewanee and received her Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree from the University of the South in May 2024. Additionally, Mother Kris has also earned degrees in counseling (B.A. and M.A.) and law (J.D.).

Prior to entering ministry, Mother Kris operated her own counseling service and worked within corporate structures, with experience in administration, business development, and staffing. Her seminary field experience included a summer term serving in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and working in churches of various sizes and worship styles.

In addition to serving as Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Natchitoches, Mother Kris is the missioner for wellness and mental health on the diocesan staff of the Rt. Rev. Jacob W. Owensby, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Louisiana. In this role, she helps develop mental health and wellness initiatives within the diocese.

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